The quick thinking of a widow’s 20-year-old son in Phokeng as well as cross-border collaborations, assisted in tracing and apprehending two suspects, aged 31 and 43, in Soshanguve, Gauteng Province.
In the early hours of Monday morning, a 47-year-old widow who allegedly returned from work, arrived at her residence at Chaneng in Phokeng, close to Rustenburg. She was overpowered and kidnapped in her driveway by five suspects, who took her Toyota Corolla vehicle and forced her into their Mercedes Benz vehicle and drove off.
According to information, her son who was concerned after his mother failed to return from work as usual, called her to check if everything was in order. Due to threats, the victim lied to her son and told him she took a neighbour to hospital. Knowing his mother, the son recognised that something was wrong and activated the vehicle’s tracker system that indicated that the vehicle was not at the hospital, but in Mooinooi. The son immediately went to Mooinooi police station and reported his mother as missing.
Police activated various units, including Crime Intelligence, Mooinooi and Phokeng Detective Units, the Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD). The victim’s car was found abandoned in Mooinooi. Information gathered, identified the location of the Mercedes Benz in Soshanguve. The team ultimately found the vehicle and arrested two suspects.
The victim was released unharmed later the same day at Akasia police station after she was threatened to transfer money into the suspects’ account.
William Aphane (31) and David Mashabela (43) appeared before the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court in Tlhabane today, 12 April 2024, on charges of kidnapping, pointing of firearm and armed robbery. They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Friday, 19 April 2024 for their bail application.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena thanked all the members and other role players involved for working diligently to ensure that the alleged perpetrators are brought to book. He emphasised that one’s first line of protection is within his or her own home and encouraged family members to follow the example set by the brave 20-year-old man who took it upon himself to locate his mother.
