No kidnapping here, Polokwane SAPS confirm after social media post
After a social media post in which a foreign national seemingly attempts to kidnap a child, police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo set the record straight.
POLOKWANE – Police have denied an incident of kidnapping in the city.
Reports on social media recently suggested that a Nigerian man who ‘posed’ as an e-hailing service driver, attempted to kidnap a young girl last week.
The message, posted on various pages, thanked the traffic officer for his assistance in arresting the man after a woman “was screaming for help”.
Review contacted police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo to get confirmation of such incident to which he confirmed that no case had been opened as there was no foul play.
Instead, there was a misunderstanding between the driver and the client about payment, which escalated, he told Review.
“No case was opened as there were no elements of crime. The report we got is that there was an argument or misunderstanding between the driver of the e-hailing service and the lady (client) about discount. Their argument led residents in the area to believe that someone was being kidnapped and a traffic official in the area intervened.”
Both the driver and the woman were taken to the police station and the matter was settled after the woman paid for the ride, Mojapelo said.
