An 84-year-old British national is recovering after a terrifying ordeal involving a kidnapping in Robertson, Western Cape. The woman, who was hijacked on Friday, 4 October, was found unharmed in a locked shack in Zwelethemba, Worcester, on Saturday, 5 October, sparking a massive police investigation.
The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon at approximately 12:10 pm on La Chasseur Road, Robertson. The woman was abducted following a hijacking, prompting a frantic search by her family and the authorities. A case was registered at the Robertson Police Station after she failed to return home.
The breakthrough came after a coordinated effort by the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit and Crime Intelligence. Police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk detailed the rescue operation.
“Intelligence led to the location of the victim on Saturday, 2024-10-05, 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 on Friday, 2024-10-04, at about 12.10pm on La Chasseur Road, Robertson. Arrests are yet to be made as all leads are pursued in a bid to apprehend those responsible,” said the police spokesman.
The discovery of the victim in an unoccupied shack in Zwelethemba has highlighted a concerning issue within South Africa. A Zwelethemba resident, speaking to reporters, expressed shock at the incident, noting the proximity of the shack to her own home. She described the scene when the woman was rescued and explained the prevalence of unoccupied structures in the area.
“During Covid-19 times, people built shacks which they never lived in. Others wanted to rent them out, while others just built them and left without saying a word. These unoccupied shacks are a problem for us," said the resident.
She also mentioned that a demolition of some unoccupied shacks had taken place last year, but clearly, the problem persists.
The police investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made as yet. Authorities are actively pursuing all leads to identify and apprehend those responsible for the kidnapping. Detective Brigadier Makhaya Mkabile is leading the investigation and is appealing to the public for any information that could assist in the case.
Captain Van Wyk urged anyone with information to contact Detective Brigadier Makhaya Mkabile on 082 222 6746, CrimeStop on 08600 10111, or via the MySAPS app.
