The Sterkspruit Magistrate’s court released Ntlakanipho Oscar Mwandla (26) and Siyabonga Mduduzi Zikode (38) on R3000-00 bail each on 23 June 2022.
This is subsequent to the arrest of the duo on 6 June 2022 by the Eastern Cape Kidnapping Task team in a joint operation with KwaZulu Natal Vispol and Local Criminal Record Centre for allegations of kidnapping.
It is alleged that the duo was involved in a kidnapping incident that took place in Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape in May 2022. An undisclosed ransom was later demanded from the family of the victim and the family reported the matter to the police.
Meanwhile the victim manage to send the location to the family before her phone was taken from her. The suspects were traced and apprehended in KwaZulu Natal on 6 June 2022.
They made their first court appearance in Sterkspruit Magistrate’s Court on 7 June 2022 where they were denied bail.
The matter was remanded several times until their ultimate release on R3000-00 bail each on 23 June 2022.
The matter is remanded to 20 July 2022 for further investigation. The Acting Provincial Head Brigadier Selina Maponya commended the effort as a step forward towards curbing the scourge.
