A couple, suspected of having links with the ISIS group, are to appear in court in Vryheid again next week on charges of kidnapping, robbery and arson.

The couple, Sayfydeen Aslam Del Vecchio (38) and Fatima Patel (27), are believed to have been camping out in Ballito, on the North Coast, on an  on-and-off basis.

The Hawks Crimes Against the State Unit, Durban Serious Organised Crime Unit and Durban Crime Intelligence KZN are the pair for their possible involvement in the kidnapping of two South African-Britons on February 12.

The kidnapping is suspected to have been taken place near Bivane dam, Vryheid. Hawks spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, said Patel and Vecchio are facing charges of kidnapping, robbery and arson as they are accused of setting alight several hectares of canefields in 2017 worth R2 million at Tongaat-Hulett plantations.

“They are also facing possible violation of Protection Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorists and Other Related Activities (POCDATARA). The Priority Crime Litigation Unit (PCLU) from is providing assistance with the prosecution.”

The accused appeared briefly at Vryheid Magistrate Court on Monday. They are expected to appear again on March 1 for a formal application.