2 Polokwane women escape abduction attempt

Two women, aged 20 and 23, managed to escape an abduction attempt after they were waiting for an e-hailing service in Polokwane in the early morning hours of April 13.

According to the victims, whose names are withheld, they were waiting for a sedan outside a building in Voortrekker Street when a multi-purpose vehicle pulled up at around 03:00.

A man alighted from the vehicle opened the boot and took out a knife, one of the victims said.

“He then threatened us with the knife, saying we have to get into the vehicle,” she said.

The women were forced into the vehicle and their abductor drove off with them.

A while later, one of the women managed to jump out of the moving vehicle in the area of the Matlala road traffic lights near Westenburg, the woman told Polokwane Observer.

“He stopped to check if I was still breathing and my friend then ran into the bushes. I lost consciousness and was told by my friend that he drove off. A man coming from the Westenburg side assisted us,” she said.

The two women were taken to hospital for medical attention and opted to recover first before filing a police case.

CPF chairperson Rudolph Phaswana advised residents to avoid dangerous situations that can make them easy targets.

“People should avoid being in unsafe spaces, especially in the city at night, when there is little chance of anyone assisting them.

“Always share a live location from your cellphone with a trusted individual and inform them [of where you are] when you feel unsafe.”

He added that information such as vehicle make, models and registration numbers are crucial evidence in such matters and victims of crime should try and remember as much detail as possible.