A woman from Welgemoed, who was the victim of a kidnapping, was reunited with her family while five suspects were arrested in Cape Town yesterday afternoon.
Also read: Business owner targeted in botched kidnapping in Macassar
The 31-year-old woman was found at a house in Mfuleni on Tuesday after she was kidnapped at Parow Industria on Friday evening.
According to SAPS provincial spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the rescue came as a result of a concerted effort by the multidisciplinary provincial anti-kidnapping task team and led to the arrest of five male suspects. ‘The 31-year-old woman was kidnapped after she left a family business where she works,’ he explained. ‘Her vehicle was later discovered abandoned at NY 99 in Gugulethu after she failed to return home from work’.
‘The task team comprising Provincial Organised Crime investigators, Crime Intelligence, DPCI, Special Task Force members, hostage negotiators, City of Cape Town and the Provincial CSI team has been hard at work pursuing leads utilising several investigative techniques since the kidnapping was reported.’
Potwela added that the woman was currently undergoing a medical examination to determine her well-being.
‘The arrested suspects, between the ages of 25 and 32, face kidnapping, hijacking, human trafficking and extortion charges. They are expected to appear in court in due course.’
Meanwhile, on Monday evening, members of the Philippi Crime Prevention Unit were busy with crime prevention operations at Surburg Walk Hanover Park when they spotted a blue Volkswagen Golf that was stationary in the middle of the road.
Upon searching the vehicle, police found and seized a black 9mm Glock pistol without a serial number, and with ammunition. Two suspects were arrested for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition, as they could not produce any documentation or licence to be in possession of such a firearm and ammunition.
In another unrelated incident on Tuesday, members of Maitland Flying Squad received information about three suspicious looking persons roaming the parking area of Shoprite in Macassar.
‘The persons were monitored by SAPS members but started running when they saw the police members approaching, explained police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk. ‘The suspects were chased on foot and all three were arrested.’ ‘The members went to the bag and found an antique rifle. The suspects were arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and detained at Macassar SAPS.’
They are due to appear in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
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Also read:
Cape Town engineer in court for kidnapping and assaulting a police officer
Picture: Groundup / Tariro Washinyira
