South African Police Rescues Kidnapped Teen Girl

By: Thandeka Kosa, South Africa

A 14-year-old girl alleged to be a victim of a kidnapping syndicate, was on Tuesday rescued by South African Police Service (SAPS)

in Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa.

The girl was allegedly kidnapped in Kriel, Mpumalanga on 22nd July 2024.

The acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, applauded the swift action of SAPS members which led to the arrest of five suspects, including two women and three men, aged between 23 and 41.

Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli explained that after the girl was allegedly kidnapped, the suspects called her mother, threatening to kill the girl if police were alerted.

He highlighted further that two off-duty police members were alerted to trace the suspects. Four of them were cornered in Vereeniging and the girl rescued unharmed.

According to Mdhluli, the arrested suspects in Vereeniging were three males and one female (41), while the fifth suspect, a female (30), was arrested in Kriel this afternoon.

“The suspects are facing charges related to kidnapping and extortion. The police cannot rule out the possibility that these suspects may have been involved in other kidnapping-related incidents. The investigation will also focus on previously reported cases of kidnapping, with the potential to add more charges as the investigation continues,” Mdhluli said.