Cape Town - Police are closing the net on kidnappers as they rescued an 84-year-old British national who was held captive in a shack in Worcester over the weekend.
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said a multidisciplinary team comprising of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Hawks, and Crime Intelligence, successfully traced and rescued the 84-year-old victim who was reported missing in Robertson on Friday.
“Intelligence led officers to the location of the victim on Saturday, October 5, at about 9.40am, where she was held in an unoccupied shack in Zwelethemba, Worcester.
“She was immediately taken to a medical facility for observation.
“According to reports received, the incident occurred a day earlier on the La Chasseur Road, Robertson.
“Arrests are yet to be made as all leads are being pursued in a bid to apprehend those responsible.”
Van Wyk said in an unrelated matter, the team also busted two foreign nationals, aged 24 and 25, after a woman was kidnapped in Stellenbosch last week.
“On Thursday, October 3, a 20-year-old victim walked from a restaurant in Plein Street, Stellenbosch.
“An unknown vehicle with two occupants stopped and kidnapped the victim. During the course of events the suspects demanded a ransom from the family of the hostage.
“The family immediately paid the money thereafter the victim was released the next day. She was immediately taken for medical examination.
“A case of kidnapping and extortion was opened for investigation.”
Van Wyk said the team followed-up on information about a black BMW and with the use of the Licence Plate Recognition camera system, the vehicle was traced to the George area.
“Two foreign national males aged 24 and 25 were found in the vehicle and detained for further investigation. An undisclosed amount of cash was found in the car including the phone used.
“The two suspects were charged and are due to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court (today) on the mentioned charges.”
Rafique Foflonker of the Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board, said they applaud the work of the team in recent months amid several arrests.
“We are really proud of the hard work by the multidisciplinary team.
“Kidnappings in Cape Town have developed into a huge money-making enterprise and we hope that with their continued hard work we will start to see the kidnapping enterprises completely eradicated in the Western Cape.”