A 14-year-old girl alleged to be a victim of a kidnapping syndicate was rescued in Vereeniging on Tuesday.
The girl was allegedly kidnapped in Kriel, Mpumalanga on Monday.
The acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, applauded the swift action of SAPS members that led to the arrest of five suspects, including two women and three men, aged between 23 and 41.
Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said: “It is further alleged that soon after the girl was kidnapped, these suspects made calls to her mother, threatening to kill the girl if police were alerted.”
Two off-duty police members were called upon to assist and they traced the suspects until they cornered four of them in Vereeniging.
The girl was found unharmed.
According to Mdhluli, the arrested suspects in Vereeniging were three males and one female (41), while the fifth suspect, a female (30), was arrested in Kriel this afternoon.
“The suspects are facing charges related to kidnapping and extortion. The police cannot rule out the possibility that these suspects may have been involved in other kidnapping-related incidents. The investigation will also focus on previously reported cases of kidnapping, with the potential to add more charges as the investigation continues.”
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
