23-year-old kidnapping victim speaks out
A woman who says she was held captive for three days opens up about her ordeal
POLOKWANE – Nyaga Bamangwato, a 23-year-old woman from Botswana, entered the new year with high hopes but was in for a shock within the first few days of January as she was held captive for three days shortly after arriving in the country.
Nyaga explained that she came to South Africa to visit family who live in Seshego at the start of the year, saying she had not seen them in almost 10 years.
“At the beginning my uncle was happy to see me. He asked what my life was like in Botswana and why I had not married yet.
“He seemed upset when I told him I wanted to find my feet in the world first and he replied that what I was doing was contrary to our tradition.” Being in her 20’s, she is by tradition expected to have had a husband and children by this time, she explained.
“I did not want to be married early like other girls my age. I decided to come to South Africa where I could have a different life.”
On the second day of her visit, a man she knows only by the name of “Tabari” invited her to accompany him to town.
“My uncle insisted that I go and said Tabari was a good man with a lot of connections in South Africa and Botswana, and that he would be able to help me find work.”
Soon after Nyaga and the man got into an old bakkie, he said he first wanted to make a quick stop at a friend’s place, she said.
“When we got there, it seemed like an abandoned building. He showed me to some bathroom saying that I needed to go to the toilet as the drive to the city was still long.”
Once inside the bathroom, which is adjacent to a bedroom, she was told the door could only lock from the outside. He locked the door with her inside, and said he would unlock it once she was done. Nyaga soon realised this was not the case.
“Hours passed with me calling out, banging on the door and trying to force it open. Finally it got dark and I fell asleep.”
Two more days passed as she tried to break out of what she referred to as her “new prison”, having only the water from the basin to drink to sustain herself. On the third day, she heard a car stop outside the building, and she tried with all her might to make as much noise as possible. “I had almost given up when I heard the key in the door.
“Tabari’s voice came from the other side. He told me he would open the door but that I should not run away. I agreed.”
The moment the door opened, she started running. “It was difficult to see where I was going, but I did not stop. I managed to find a road and stopped the first car that drove past.”
The driver took Nyaga to the nearest police station, which was that of Seshego.
“I told the police I was staying with my uncle in Extention 44 and asked if they could take me there. I also said I knew the man who had taken me captive.”
According to Nyaga, she was told there was no vehicle available to take her to her uncle’s house.
She had to leave the police station without having accomplished much.
“The police could not help me. I was told there was nothing that could be done since I didn’t have the address of where I was held against my will, or the correct name of my captor.”
Now, Nyaga plans to return to Botswana, “there, I have never been in so much danger, I still experience nightmares, waking up at night thinking I am still locked up”.
Seshego Police Station Spokesperson, WO Mothemane Malefo, said no case had been opened at the station.
He urged Nyaga to make contact with them at (015) 223 9300.
