Police arrested a 35-year-old mentally ill man for kidnapping at a hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town, on April 10 around 2am.
According to Heidelberg SAPS media liaison officer Capt Thivhulawi Tshilate, the suspect had assaulted his wife and broke the house and car windows on April 5 at a house along Madelifie Street, Bergsig, Heidelberg.
Police were summoned to attend the scene.
“It was revealed to police officers that the suspect suffered from mental illness and he was taken to Heidelberg Hospital for medical treatment,” said Tshilate.
“He was discharged on April 8 in the afternoon. The couple then left Gauteng without notifying any family. They had left the children with the wife’s brother,” he said.
Tshilate explained that the suspect’s wife is a nurse who usually clocked for the night shift at a local clinic, adding she did not inform her supervisor about her absence from work.
“The man’s father and woman’s brother and her elder sister received numerous messages where the woman was pleading for help. The messages included a location,” he said.
“The family reported a case of kidnapping to Heidelberg police, fearing he might harm his wife,” said Tshilate.
Police opened a missing person’s enquiry, where activation was effected to conduct searches and investigations.
Tshilate said they traced and apprehended the suspect and rescued the wife unharmed with the help of police investigations, the assistance and cooperation from the families of the husband and wife.
Media publications, volunteered private investigators, CPF participations, President Hotel staff and security manager, Sea Point Police Station members, social media users and other concerned groups also assisted.
The Heidelberg SAPS station commander, Col Phiwe Ndwandwe, sent praise, congratulations and appreciation to the members of SAPS, more so to Det WO Christie de Beer for furthering and extending investigations through all possible leads.
The arrested suspect has been charged with being in the company of a kidnapped person in Sea Point, Cape Town.
He will be brought back to Heidelberg to face charges of kidnapping.
