Police have been hailed for their swift action in the rescue of a British woman and the arrests of suspects in two separate kidnapping incidents days apart in the Western Cape.
Police have been hailed for their swift action in the rescue of a British woman and the arrests of suspects in two separate kidnapping incidents days apart in the Western Cape.
According to police spokesperson FC van Wyk, a manhunt was under way for suspects in connection with the abduction of an 84-year-old British woman in Robertson.
She was later found by a multidisciplinary Anti-Kidnapping Task Team including the provincial organised crime investigation unit, DPCI and Crime Intelligence.
Van Wyk said a case of hijacking and kidnapping was opened on Friday at the Robertson local police station after the incident.
“According to reports received, the incident occurred at about 12pm on La Chasseur Road. Intelligence led to the location of the victim on Saturday, at about 9am where she was held in an unoccupied shack in Zwelethemba, Worcester. She was immediately taken to a medical facility for observation.
Arrests are yet to be made as all leads are pursued in a bid to apprehend those responsible,” he said.
On Thursday the investigative work of the same multidisciplinary team led to the arrest of two men aged 24 and 25 for kidnapping and extortion in connection with the abduction of a student.
At about 2.40am the 20-year-old woman was walking from a restaurant in Plein Street, Stellenbosch, to her residence, which was within walking distance, when an unknown vehicle with two occupants stopped and kidnapped her.
“During the course of events, the suspects demanded a ransom from the family of the hostage. The family immediately paid the money, whereupon the victim was released on Friday. She was immediately taken for a medical examination.
“A case of kidnapping and extortion was opened for investigation. Information was followed up, and a vehicle of interest, a black BMW, was identified during preliminary investigation. The Licence Plate Recognition system was activated, and the vehicle was successfully traced to the George area.
Two foreign national males were found in the vehicle and detained for further investigation. An undisclosed amount of cash was found in the car, including the phone used,” said Van Wyk.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Provincial police commissioner Thembisile Patekile commended the team of detectives for their swift response to locate and rescue the first victim and in the arrest of the suspects in the separate incident.
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais applauded the police work and all law enforcement officials involved.
She also expressed her concern over the increasing number of kidnappings for ransom.
“The excellent investigative work leading to these arrests is something every South African can be proud of. That said, these cases are a clear indication of the dangerous and ever evolving nature of crime. The increase in the number of kidnappings for ransom is a blood-curdling and continuous trend which the SAPS and the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety have strategised over for a considerable period of time already. To see these strategies bearing fruit is positive. That the people of the Western Cape must be vigilant is an unfortunate but pressing fact of life at this time,” Marais said.
ANC Police Oversight and Community Safety spokesperson Bensin Ngqentsu said: “I welcome the arrest of the heartless suspects and look forward to hearing that the suspects in connection with the Worcester incident have also been apprehended. I also commend the SAPS led multidisciplinary investigations and it is evident that such multidisciplinary response continue to pay dividends. Police must intensify multidisciplinary approaches in the fight against crime in this province.”
Cape Times
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