Sandra is alive: Abducted Westville woman found

UPDATE (8 November, 2019):

SANDRA has been found. She is alive and four men are reportedly in custody.

News broke on Friday (8 November) morning that the Westville mum who had been missing since the night of May 30, had been found and is alive.

Although she was reportedly unharmed, there are unconfirmed reports that she was found chained in a house in Gauteng.

We will update this developing story as verifiable facts become available.

ALSO READ: Reunited: Westville family overjoyed at rescue of missing mother

Here are links to other stories about this case as reported by the Highway Mail over the past six months.

Westville kidnapping: Family confirms investigation into Sandra’s whereabouts continues

Arrest for owning victim’s phone: HAWKS still investigating kidnapping of Westville Mum

UPDATE (1 June, 2019):

THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, has taken the reigns from local police  to investigate the kidnapping of Sandra Moonsamy.

Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Captain Bongumusa Manqele confirmed on Saturday morning that the Hawks were handling the case and referred the Highway Mail to its spokesman for further updates.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report is being circulated on social media platforms claiming that Sandra has been found.

The Highway Mail was as at 2pm on Saturday, still unable to confirm the facts which included suppositions about where Sandra was being kept and that contact had been made with her family by the alleged kidnappers.

This is an ongoing story and updates will be posted as and when they can be verified.

An updated image of Sandra is also being shared on social media with ongoing requests for information and asserting that the family had offered a reward for her safe return.

The Highway Mail has removed the phone numbers before posting the image until it can be verified by our reporters in the interests of not harming any ongoing investigations.

(Update by Evelyn Morris)

Here is the original story which the Highway Mail originally shared on Friday morning:

INVESTIGATORS from a variety of crime-fighting organisations and networks are assisting police, who are following leads, as they probe a case of kidnapping following the apparent abduction of a middle-aged woman from her vehicle in Stapleton Road on the evening of Thursday, 30 May.

Blue Security spokesperson, Andreas Mathios reported on Friday morning that he had responded to calls from a variety of people, who he is connected to in his liaison with neighbourhood watches in the Pinetown area, about gunshots in near Stapleton Road.

“I was at home and also heard the shots and notified Blue Security Control to send a vehicle to investigate as I made my way to Stapleton Road,” added Mathios who said within a minute of leaving home he came across the crime scene on the on-ramp to the M13.

Listen to Mathios describe the scene he found in this voice note he sent to the Highway Mail on Friday morning:

According to a report on social media calling for prayers, the woman, initially named Sandra Naicker, is from Crossmoor Transport which has its head-office in Pinetown.

However, later reports name her as Sandra Moonsamy.
The Highway Mail contacted Crossmoor Transport but the man who answered would not confirm nor deny her name or that she was an employee at the company.

On Friday morning Reaction Unit South Africa posted an appeal for information on its Facebook page with a picture of the missing woman.

https://www.facebook.com/ReactionUnitSouthAfrica/photos/a.625094734175791/2508616179156961/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCqq5BAw_VyPS5PP3d5nrJyKP6FhNtH23oDve9vp0YJ0nhOFdi2MX40bF22L_T58kMLgLJ-IsA36otmCshkmGEQY7cm050HArWdb9yfvlWzw-Jdbqp2Fwuj2tVdmeD_dn2kVN7zSusHHbBnOWUDhGlQfuP8BS6fwSV5xFe3u3fiTsveY91v6AKpwLFTzLoD0FukajXHk_D-e3KS6e1lmTdn76KoTx0KvYE5SlDpv-nzlACN6BE5XwsSUl35yZZnuQStAj4ANwOa4DM8eiChqHC8vhG7mDwjBVVkImsEnjtxHyhSKl6MJ8vDtPG7lDKBTllK1q3Mb4qyiZWttf4oUhbQ1A&__tn__=-R

“Sandra’s black Range Rover was found in Stapleton Road in Pinetown – KZN at approximately 6.30pm. The vehicle was found with two bullet holes in the window on the driver’s side and the left front passenger window was smashed in,” said the post.

“According to a witness, several African males in a silver VW Golf, a white hatchback BWM & a bakkie forced the businesswoman off the road. They then fired shots at the driver’s window when she locked herself in.
Other suspects damaged the left window with the butt of a firearm and forced her out. She was then pushed into a vehicle and driven away.”

Reaction Unit South Africa reported that a passing security vehicle had tried to chase the suspects’ vehicles but was fired upon. “The victim’s handbag and phone were left at the scene. The Westville resident has not been seen or heard from since. Reaction Officers & SAPS members are following up on leads,” they said.  “If you have any information on this incident call Reaction Unit South Africa on 0861234333.”

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Missing Pinetown Taxify driver found dead in Ladysmith

https://www.facebook.com/avis.moodley/posts/2360983967453750

Meanwhile, social media requests for prayer for Sandra’s safe return were shared last night on Facebook and spread quickly on community WhatsApp groups around Durban.

Police comment 

Pinetown SAPS communications officer,  Captain Bongumusa Manqele said police are investigating cases of attempted murder and kidnapping following the incident which according to police reports took place on the M13 highway heading east (Duban bound).

“On Thursday, at about 5.45pm, the police responded to a shooting incident. On arrival at the scene they saw a black Range Rover that was stationary on the side of the road with the hazards on and the driver’s door was open,” said Manqele. “Upon inspection of the car, the police saw that the car was still idling but the driver was not in the car. There were two gunshots on the driver’s window.”

ALSO READ: Pinetown smash and grabs escalate

According to Manqele, the suspects were wearing balaclavas.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that two suspects who were driving in a white BMW blocked the traffic on the M13 highway and started firing at a security vehicle that was travelling on the same road before fleeing the scene,” he said.

A case of attempted murder and kidnapping was opened at Pinetown SAPS. The police would like to appeal to anyone who may assist the police in apprehending the suspects to contact the Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

We will be updating this story as further information becomes available. Keep an eye on the Highway Mail Facebook page for links to updates or follow-up stories.

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