SAPS and SANDF rescue abducted family, recover vehicles near Mozambique

Police Officer

Cape Town – Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) successfully collaborated to rescue seven family members, including toddlers, who had been kidnapped in Mpumalanga.

“According to information, an elderly woman was taking her six family members, two teenage boys, two teenage girls and two toddlers, to their grandparents’ place at Block C from their residence in KaMaqhekeza on Tuesday night, at about 8pm,” Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.

As the family was preparing to depart from their home, four armed attackers reportedly arrived at the scene and compelled the family members to enter their family vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner.

The kidnappers then drove them toward the Mozambique border while disconnecting the vehicle’s tracking device.

The husband of one of the victims became suspicious when his family did not return as expected and alerted the police, who also involved the SANDF.

The joint effort led to the rescue of the victims and the recovery of their vehicle in the early hours of the following morning.

The kidnappers managed to escape before the police arrived.

During the rescue operation, two additional stolen vehicles were found in the vicinity along the border, including a Toyota Hilux double cab bakkie reported stolen in KaMhlushwa and a Toyota GD-6 double cab bakkie reported stolen in Garsfontein, Gauteng Province.

The suspects remain at large, and authorities are urging anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

Article written by