Norwood police say the case concerning an alleged kidnapper in the Joburg east suburbs, published in the North Eastern Tribune Week ending 18 August, is not closed but is merely filed.
Speaking to the Tribune on 14 August, following our article, investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Stroomie Tungoane said the case is still pending.
The paper reported that an alleged kidnapper tried but failed to kidnap the 10-year-old daughter of Lyndhurst businessman, Mike Fudhu Olongo. The Grade 4 child attends Maryvale College where the incident occurred.
Olongo claimed the kidnapper used a car similar to that of his wife’s (Nissan Juke) when he went to the school and tried to kidnap the child. The child, however, managed to escape and told his father who then alerted the paper in his quest to warn other parents.
Tungoane said they have not closed the case but instead filed it because there isn’t sufficient information to help the police.
Tungoane said there was not enough evidence or useful information to proceed with their investigation. “So we filed it and whenever new information is available we will then reinstate it and proceed with our investigation.
“We have no registration number of the car and even the school’s security guards have no information. It is difficult to investigate such a case due to a lack of information, but we urge anyone who might have information to come forward and assist us.”
Following the publication, Olongo said he was surprised to read in the paper that the case was closed as the police hadn’t notified him.
Tungoane claimed that he did try to contact the father but could not get hold of him. “I tried to phone him but his phone was off,” he said.
Details: Norwood Police Station 011 483 4609.
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