A 27-year-old woman was rescued from an alleged kidnapping near a dam in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday at about 8pm. The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) reported that metro police officers were conducting routine patrols on Link Road when they heard the woman screaming for help and saw her run towards their vehicle for safety. The officers immediately stopped their vehicle to assist her.
The woman told officers that four men travelling in a white Toyota Avanza had allegedly attempted to kidnap her. The officers gave chase, but the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Two suspects ran into the Emfihlweni Cemetery, while the other two, including the driver of the vehicle, fled towards the Esselen Park area. The suspects opened fire at the officers during the pursuit.
Despite the challenges, the EMPD spokesperson Colonel Kelebogile Thepa confirmed that no metro police officers were injured during the incident. However, due to the darkness in the cemetery area, the suspects managed to evade arrest. Thepa said that cases of attempted kidnapping and attempted murder would be opened at Thembisa police station for further investigation.
The EMPD will work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to trace the suspects and the vehicle. Colonel Thepa urged community members, particularly women, to remain vigilant and avoid walking alone in isolated areas, open velds and unlit streets at night. She also asked residents to report suspicious vehicles or people to police immediately.
The incident comes amid concerns about the safety of women in South Africa, following the discovery of the bodies of 12 women in different parts of the metro. The killings have renewed concerns about South Africa’s ongoing gender-based violence and femicide crisis. Police have said investigations into the murders are continuing.
Colonel Thepa condemned the continued targeting of women by violent and ruthless criminals. The EMPD has assured the public that they will not rest until those responsible are brought to book. Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the four men travelling in a white Toyota Avanza is asked to come forward.
The EMPD and SAPS are working together to prevent similar incidents and ensure the community's safety. Community members are encouraged to cooperate with the authorities and provide any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. The incident highlights the need for continued efforts to address the issue of gender-based violence in South Africa.
Key points
- The incident occurred near a dam in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday at about 8pm.
- The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, and the EMPD is working with SAPS to trace them.
- The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of women and South Africa’s ongoing gender-based violence and femicide crisis.
