Reunited: Westville family overjoyed at rescue of missing mother
The mother who went missing in May is undergoing tests and treatment at a hospital but has been reunited with her family following the end of her six-month-long ordeal.
SANDRA Munsamy is safely back with her loved ones following her abduction in May. Her six-month-long ordeal ended last night when police found her.
The family has issued a statement asking for time to process the breakthrough and allow her the space to heal from her ordeal.
“We are overjoyed to announce that Sandra was found on Thursday night and reunited with her family. She is currently with her loved ones and beginning her road to recovery,” said spokesman for the Naicker family, Keisha Patchiappen.
“We will share further information as the investigation is concluded. We would like to thank the Hawks for their tireless efforts, as well as the general public for keeping Sandra in their thoughts and prayers daily. We are elated and relieved to have her back with us safely.”
The news broke early on Friday morning that Sandra was found during an operation by police in Witbank also known as eMalahleni, in Mpumalanga on Thursday night. Police confirmed on Friday that four men had been arrested, two in Gauteng, and two more in eMalahleni.
ALSO READ: Sandra is alive: Abducted Westville woman found
According to the Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, Sandra was conscious but in what he described as a “bad state” in a house in Mpumalanga. She was found bound in chains.
Sandra is the daughter of Poonsamy and Lutchmee Naicker, owners of logistics company, Crossmoor Transport.
Never gave up
Throughout the past few months, Sandra’s brother, Inderan Naicker, said the family has remained hopeful that his sister would be returned safely, despite her having been gone for so long with few breakthroughs in the case.
In a statement, released a month after she went missing, he expressed hope in her return and faith in the authorities.
“While every passing day makes the burden on our family, due to Sandra’s absence, heavier, we remain optimistic that she will be returned to us safely. We are working closely with authorities to follow up on any new leads and seek out new details, which could assist us in locating her.”
Naicker’s statements in months to come echoed the same sentiments he had expressed in June.
ALSO READ: Westville kidnapping: “False stories could put Sandra’s life at risk” – brother
However, on more than one occasion the family had to quash gossip and rumours spreading about what had happened to Sandra.
Following a number of unconfirmed allegations being published as fact by media outlets, and shared across social media channels, Naicker said in the first few months of the investigation, he was worried about how they might impact the chance of his sister returning to the bosom of her family safely.
“There is a real danger that the proliferation of rumours and false storylines could put Sandra’s life at further risk. Once again, we appeal to the press and individuals to avoid speculation, and to share content which could impact the ongoing investigation responsibly,” he said.
At the moment Sandra is undergoing tests and treatment in hospital and then will be returning home once she is given a clean bill of health according to a source close to the family.
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