Crime waits for no one, and the former Executive Mayor of the Emalahleni Local Municipality can testify of this.
Ms Lindiwe Ntshalintshali was hijacked on the evening of Wednesday, September 19.
WITBANK NEWS reported on www.witbanknews.co.za that responder (from the SACCW) Mr Flip Opperman received a panicked phone call from Lindiwe’s husband, stating that his wife has not returned home from a trip away and that he could not reach her on her cell phone.
SACCW Witbank contacted the police and assisted with their resources to locate the former mayor. Her vehicle was later recovered in Ekangala at a local guest house and shortly thereafter Ms Ntshalintshali and a family member was found safe, reportedly dropped off in the Balmoral area, next to the N4-highway and the suspects drove away with Ntshalinthali’s vehicle.
Members from the Witbank Police worked around the clock to find the suspects responsible for the crime.
A press release dated September 21 confirmed the arrest of a 35-year-old man linked to the hijacking and kidnapping of Ntshalintshali. The suspect will soon appear in court. The press release stated that during the hostage ordeal, the former mayor and her sister were reportedly assaulted en robbed of their personal belongings as well as cash. When the vehicle of the former mayor was recovered at above mentioned guest house, Ntshalintshali’s belongings were also found in the suspect’s possession.
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The eMalahleni community had a lot to say about one suspect being apprehended. The reason for the arrest is that the suspect made one crucial mistake and this led to his arrest. The investigation is still ongoing and not all suspects have been arrested.
It is reported in the press release that the suspect is to appear in Gauteng for the possession and later at Ogies Magistrate’s Court for the hijacking.
Police Management in the province believe that the suspect is linked with another case that took place recently at Vosman, where a police officer was hijacked and robbed of his service pistol as well as a private firearm.
Lindiwe Ntshalintshali extended her gratitude and thanks to every person who assisted during the incident.
“A family was travelling along the highway towards Pretoria and they were a godsend. They did not hesitate to help me and gave us water to drink and coffee to help bring my sugar level up. They gave me a cell phone to phone my husband, he was the first person I called and then mam’ Linah.”
Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.
She thanked the national commissioner, the police and the mayor of eMalahleni as well as the disaster team who sent the chopper to recover her vehicle.
“Everyone worked together and I want to thank everyone in the Nkangala district who assisted in the case,” said Lindiwe.
“The family drove me to the police station and stayed until my husband arrived. They were constantly praying for me and my sister, they even prayed for me before they departed the station. They embraced me, gave me hope and we are blessed that you assisted us,” she concluded. “Even with kids in the car, they did not hesitate to help me.”
