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Sabie family held at gunpoint, kidnapped during robbery

A Sabie family was robbed at gunpoint at their home and subsequently kidnapped, along with their one-year-old baby, in the early hours of May 31. The victims were later abandoned in a secluded area along the R37 Sabie/Hendriksdal road, and managed to walk to a place of safety for assistance.

A Sabie family were awoken in their beds in the early hours of Friday May 31 by three suspects armed with guns.

A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the incident occurred between 02:00 and 03:00, and that the family, a mother, father and one-year-old child woke to three men pointing firearms at them.

Mdhluli said the suspects ordered the family to remain calm and threatened to kill them if they did not co-operate. He said the suspects then helped themselves to the family’s belongings before demanding the keys to their Toyota Fortuner.

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“After loading the stolen items, the victims were forced into the vehicle with their one-year-old baby,” he said.

Mdhluli said after driving around for a while, the suspects abandoned the family unharmed in a secluded area along the R37 Sabie/Hendriksdal road, leaving with the stolen items in the bakkie.

He said the victims walked until they reached a place where they got assistance. Law enforcement agencies, including members of the SANDF, SAPS and tracking companies, were alerted to the incident. The stolen bakkie was traced and recovered in Goba, Nkomazi, at about 06:20.

“The investigation by the police continues with a hope to arrest the perpetrators and recover the other properties that were robbed from the victims,” said Mdhluli.

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