4 kidnapped children rescued, man arrested in the north of Pretoria
A late-night operation in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, resulted in the rescue of four kidnapped victims and the arrest of a suspect linked to the ordeal.
Pretoria Rekord reports that he operation was carried out in the early hours on Monday, after multiple law enforcement and private security companies joined forces.
The victims, two girls and two boys, were kidnapped in Soshanguve Block W.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk says their captors sent disturbing videos to their families, showing the victims being assaulted while naked and demanding R50 000 for their release.
Van Dyk says, fearing for their children's lives, the distraught parents opened a case of kidnapping at Rietgat SAPS.
Acting on intelligence, a multi-agency task team comprising Rietgat SAPS detectives, the Crime Prevention Unit, Gauteng traffic wardens, Tshenolo PI, Zondi Crime Bursters, Jimbos Security and CMC Security, launched a co-ordinated rescue operation.
At around 01:30, the team located the victims in Soshanguve Block NN, and a man was arrested at the scene.
'The victims were able to positively identify the suspect as one of the individuals who had held them captive.
'He now faces charges of kidnapping, with further charges likely as the investigation progresses,' says Van Dyk.
He says the victims were reunited with their families, and an officer was injured during the high-risk rescue.
The suspect is due to appear in court soon.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Video: Manhunt for KZN double murderer after daring escape
Police in KZN have launched a massive manhunt for Lungisani Velentine Mkhize who escaped from lawful custody earlier today. According to the Zululand Observer, the escape occurred on the John Ross highway, under the N2 bridge, outside Empangeni. According to KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mhlongo, Mkhize and his alleged accomplice, Sphelele Gwala, assaulted a police captain on the head while he was driving. 'The police captain reduced speed as they approached the robots. The duo assaulted the driver on the head and quickly opened the doors [of the vehicle] to escape. There were two officers in the vehicle, and both accused were cuffed. It is not clear how they uncuffed themselves. 'Gwala was shot in the leg after he jumped out of the police vehicle. Mkhize managed to escape and is still at large,' says Mhlongo. He adds that an ambulance was called and treated Gwala at the scene before transporting him to an undisclosed hospital, where he is under 24-hour police guard. The pair were recently convicted of the double murder of Road Traffic Inspectorate officers Sizwe Sithole (48) and Mxolisi Lamula (36), who were gunned down on August 30, 2021, on the N2 in the Nkodibe area in Mtubatuba. 'The pair were en route to Mtuzini High Court for sentencing [at the time of their escape],' said Mhlongo. Traffic officers' murder At the time of their murder, the on-duty Sithole and Lamula were seated inside their marked traffic vehicle, which was parked on the Nkodibe on-ramp, at around 18:00. They were shot at close range by Mkhize and his accomplice while still inside their vehicle. They died instantly in a hail of bullets, their vehicle riddled with bullet holes. About 15 cartridges from a pistol and an R5 or AK-47 were found at the scene. Mkhize was arrested in September 2021 with his accomplice. They were both charged with double murder. Watch the video of the scene: Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Video: Bail application postponed for Standerton man allegedly found with child porn
The bail application hearing for a man arrested after almost one million child sexual abuse images was alledly found in his possesion, has been postponed to Thursday. According to Ridge Times, the 59-year-old man looked dishevelled as he was led to the dock of the Standerton Magistrate's Court this morning. He is facing charges of possessing and distributing child pornography, one count of sexual grooming, and one count of compelled sexual assault. The latter, as defined under South African law, occurs when someone forces a third party to commit a sexual act against another person's will. The man was not asked to plead, rendering it still illegal for the media to publish the well-known resident's name. Bail hearing testimony The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Lelani de Lange from the Serial Electronic Crimes Unit, testified for the state that bail should not be granted. She described the accused as a 'pedophile', stating that a total of 954 000 images were found on hard drives. More than 59 000 images were found on one device, with the rest on other external hard drives also found in the man's possession. These included images of children being sexually abused and could also include AI images depicting child pornography. According to De Lange, the distribution charge relates to the numerous child pornography websites the man had joined. 'To be part of these sites, members are also expected to share images,' she said. She testified that this municipal employee should not be granted bail because he might interfere with a young victim; he is a danger to society as he lives next to a pre-school; and police believe the man suffers from depression and has suicidal tendencies. Defence arguments Speaking on behalf of the accused, lawyer André Moolman said there are no medical records to indicate that his client suffers from depression. He referred to the evidence in the case as insufficient and emphasised several technical issues. Moolman told the court that his client's photos were leaked to the media, causing further complications. He said his client has been married for 31 years, is well-known in the community, and could lose his employment if he is not granted bail, which would negatively affect his wife. Moolman also stated that his client suffers from scoliosis, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. He claimed that the accused cannot sleep without his CPAP machine, which is currently not available to him. Magistrate Sabelo Tembe presided. Members of the Justice for All group picketed at outside the court as they do not want bail to be granted to the accused. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
North West court sentences 2 men for kidnapping and rape of 13-year-old girl
Two men were sentenced in the Atamelang Regional Court, North West, today for the rape and kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl. According to the Potchefstroom Herald, Mohau Jan Mogale (30) and Thabo Isaac Molusi (29) were found guilty of rape and kidnapping. The convictions stem from a tragic incident on November 10, 2017, when a 13-year-old girl was accosted by them while on her way home. Investigations revealed that Mogale grabbed her by the hand while Molusi forced her to accompany them. The court heard that the young girl was taken to a house in a section called 'Iraq' in Ottosdal and was locked inside the bedroom. The two men left the girl locked in the house. After a while, Molusi returned and ordered the victim to take off her clothes. When she refused, he forcefully undressed and raped her throughout the night. The next day, Molusi left her in the room, and she managed to escape. Her uncle and her sister, who were searching for her, found the victim while she was on her way home. She was taken home, where she reported the ordeal to her mother. A case was opened, and both men were identified and arrested. Both men pleaded not guilty but were convicted based on overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution. Mogale was convicted of kidnapping, and Molusi of rape and kidnapping. In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Edward Manicus emphasised the high prevalence of gender-based violence and the vulnerability of women and children in South Africa. He further presented two victim impact statements from the victim and her mother, detailing the profound physical and psychological trauma they suffered. He urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment to protect society, especially vulnerable members like children. In delivering judgment, Magistrate Stephan du Toit emphasised the 'humiliating and degrading effects of rape upon the victims' and the 'need for the courts to protect the victims'. Mogale was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for kidnapping. Molusi received life imprisonment for rape and an additional eight years for kidnapping. The court ordered that Molusi's name be included in the National Register for Sexual Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West welcomed the sentences and commended the dedication of Manicus and other stakeholders involved in securing this conviction. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
