In one of the latest kidnapping cases plaguing South Africa, a tripe kidnapping saw a mother, her 18-month baby and a nanny snatched.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Tuesday, 19 July while the women and child were at home.
“Three armed male suspects wearing balaclavas and face masks stormed into a certain house at Buffelspruit…and then eld their victims at gunpoint,” Brigadier Selvy Mohlala stated.
Material items including cash, mobile phones and bank cards were demanded, as well as car keys and cash.
However, these demands weren’t enough for the culprits, who took things a step further by forcing the victims into a vehicle (a gold Toyota Run-X) which belonged to the owner of the house.
Soon, the three were driven away into Nelspruit’s bushveld until they reached the at Hectorspruit near Komatipoort.
The kidnappers ordered that a cash transaction be made on the homeowner’s banking app before cashing out the money – leaving the suspects afraid and watched by two other suspects in the bush.
It was only at around 3am the following day that the victims were instructed once again – this time to start walking away and to “never look back.”
The two women and baby were given a lift by someone who was nothing short of a Good Samaritan, and soon they were home.
Unfortunately, no arrests have been made as of yet, and police have urged anyone with information to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
This event follows a string of highly publicised kidnappings, many of which have happened in Cape Town. Although some of the victims have been reunited with their families like Shireen Essop and Ismail Rajah, the fear that locals live with due to the uptake in this crime suspect is felt all over the country.
Kidnappings have been on the rise in SA, with stats pointing to an increase of 109.2% compared to quarterly crime data that compared 2022 to 2021 – with no South African province exempt from the increase.
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