NOORDWESTER – LICHTENBURG - Five suspects between the ages of 24 and 42, appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 14 May, after being arrested on Thursday, 9 May, for kidnapping.
According to information received, five suspects who are Zimbabwean Nationals, saw an advert on Facebook about the sale of maize meal in Klerksdorp. They then made arrangements for Tuesday, 7 May, and ultimately drove from Pretoria to come and buy the product.
On arrival in Klerksdorp, they were taken to Extension 19 in Jouberton, to collect the maize meal. While the victims were waiting inside the house, people who pretended to be police officials entered and robbed them of their money. The suspects, who did not harm the victims, fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. A case of common robbery was opened at Jouberton police station.
The victims attempted to meet with the scammers, by organising a meet with the suspects on Thursday, 9 May. A woman acted as a potential buyer and agreed to meet at a certain garage in Klerksdorp. Reports suggest that, the suspects spotted the alleged scammer, then grabbed and put him inside their vehicle and drove off in the direction of Lichtenburg. The suspects’ vehicle was stopped by the police near Lichtenburg and the victim managed to disclose that he had been kidnapped.
The suspects were arrested while the 40-year-old kidnapping victim was handed over to Jouberton police. Tsietsi Ncipha appeared before Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 10 May, and was granted bail of R2000. The five suspects were taken to Klerksdorp and made a first appearance before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 14 May, for kidnapping. Xolani Ncube, Milton Nyoni, Mandla Ntshongolo, Joel Moyo and Kalvin Tshuma are expected to appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court again on Monday, 20 May, for bail application.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated Lichtenburg police, Klerksdorp and Jouberton Detectives for wor-king together in making sure that the suspects were apprehended.
