Cape Town – Three people, including a woman and a teenage boy, have been arrested after they allegedly kidnapped two boys in Mpumalanga last week.
The two minors from two separate families were allegedly kidnapped in Graskop on Friday.
They were freed after a group of residents heard about the alleged kidnapping and went to the suspected house.
In a statement, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the boys who had visible wounds were locked up at a house without the approval or knowledge of their parents.
“Subsequent to the information reaching the community in the area, a group converged to go to a house where the two kids were suspected to have been kept. Nonetheless, police in the area were not officially informed about the disappearance of the children.
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“It is said that the group of people proceeded to the residence of a lady, thereby inquiring on the whereabouts of the kids upon arrival. However, the woman reportedly informed them that the children were not available at the time but were rather in Marite near BushbuckRidge.
“Members of the community lost patience and reportedly forced their way through into a hut. They then found the two boys who appeared to have been in an unstable state of mind,” Mohlala said.
The woman was allegedly assaulted by the group and sustained some injuries.
“Police were alerted about the developments and they swiftly went to the scene to rescue the situation,” said Mohlala
The woman, 49, a 17-year-old boy, and a 24-year-old man were arrested on charges of kidnapping.
The woman was taken to hospital for treatment under police guard.
The 24-year-old suspect appeared at the Graskop Magistrate’s Court and the case was postponed to July 12.
The two other suspects were yet to appear in court.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
