Yesterday, 21 May 2018, a joint operation led by the Newcastle FCS Commander Captain Nagesh Moothilal, Newcastle K9 Unit and Madadeni SAPS members yielded positive results when they rescued three children that were kidnapped in the morning.
The team proceeded to a house at Inverness place in Osizweni where three children were kept hostage by the suspects. A total of five suspects aged between 20 and 70 were arrested. They were also found in possession of an unlicensed pistol.
The hijacked vehicle was recovered at Osizweni, C Section. It is believed that one of the suspects who orchestrated the carjacking and kidnapping is a relative of the victims whilst another is a close family friend.
The suspects demanded a ransom from the family for the safe release of the children.
Yesterday morning at 06:45, the complainant was driving his uncle’s vehicle at Madadeni, Section 7 when unknown men waved at him and indicated that something was wrong with the vehicles tyre. The complainant was travelling with six children in the vehicle. When the driver pulled over at Qaphelani School to inspect the tyres of the vehicle, he was confronted by the suspects who threatened him with firearms. The driver was pulled out of the vehicle and the suspects fled in complainant’s vehicle with three children still inside.
The arrested suspects will appear at the Madadeni Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on charges of carjacking, kidnapping and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
An additional charge of human trafficking will also be added.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
