DURBAN – It is alleged that on 25 March 2022 at 10:00, a 17-year-old teenager left her home at Ndindindi in Nquthu. Her whereabouts were unknown to the family members. A missing person docket was opened at Nquthu SAPS for investigation and the docket was later changed to kidnapping after an unknown suspect demanded R8000-00 from the family.

The docket was assigned to the Dundee Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for investigation. The team worked tirelessly utilising all available resources to search for the kidnapped victim. The investigation revealed that the kidnapped victim was at U Section in Umlazi. An operation was put in place on 6 April 2022, with police officers from various units in the SAPS.

The team held observations at various homesteads in D Section and U Section, Umlazi. Police pounced on an informal dwelling in a bushy area at Umlazi, searching for the victim. The victim fled into a nearby house upon seeing the police officers. She was chased and was found under the influence of liquor. She was taken along with her 15-year-old accomplice for questioning. It was established that the victim left her home and visited a 15-year-old girl whom she alleged that she met on social media. She stayed with her friend the entire weekend while her family and police were worried sick about her disappearance. It is alleged that she was having a good time with her new friend and they staged a kidnapping.

During the investigation, it was established that videos were taken of her to create the impression that she was being held captive. The videos were forwarded to her family and a ransom was demanded. They were charged for extortion, conspiracy to commit an offence as well as defeating the ends of justice. Both suspects appeared at the Nquthu Magistrate’s Court on 8 April 2022 however, the matter was not enrolled. The docket will now be transferred to Umlazi SAPS for further investigation. The suspects were released into their parents’ custody pending further investigation.

We would like to warn the members of the community to refrain from reporting fake cases. Those found reporting false cases would face the full might of law as it results in resources being wasted whilst police should be focussing on serious crimes. The arrest of the two teens is testimony that police have the ability to uncover such schemes and will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

Source: South African Police Service