A 23-year-old Soweto woman and her accomplice were arrested by police in Moroka, Soweto, for orchestrating a false kidnapping. The woman, along with a Mozambican national, was charged with kidnapping and attempting to obstruct justice.
Police Response and Investigation
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), provided details of the investigation. A specialized team was assembled, including members from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Provincial Investigation Unit, and Johannesburg Flying Squad. Private security agencies also played a crucial role in tracing the suspects.
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The police’s efforts led them to a residence in Moroka, where they discovered both the alleged victim and her supposed kidnapper. A deeper investigation revealed that the kidnapping was entirely fabricated. Both individuals were taken into custody for their involvement in the staged crime.
Similar Cases of Staged Kidnappings
This case is not an isolated incident. In another part of South Africa, a woman from the Eastern Cape conspired with an accomplice to stage her own kidnapping, intending to extort ransom money from her boyfriend.
According to Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba of the Eastern Cape Hawks, the woman’s boyfriend was shocked when he received unsettling images and videos showing her bound and gagged. Fearing for her safety, he reached out to the woman’s sister, who reported receiving identical disturbing messages. Concerned, the family escalated the matter to the Hawks for investigation.