Kidnapped Gqeberha resident is back with her family
"Lindsay Knowlden has been safely returned," Andre Snyman, founder of community safety organisation eblockwatch, said on Facebook early on Wednesday.
"To the police, private teams, community networks and every person who shared, searched and stood together, thank you. This was a massive team effort."
Atlas Security, which was called out to the kidnapping at the weekend, confirmed: "We are pleased to report Lindsay Knowlden has been reunited with her family."
Knowlden was abducted from the underground parking lot at the Markman fresh produce market at 6am on Saturday.
Her husband Peter, who tried to fight the two assailants, was pistol-whipped and sustained a cut above his eyes, according to Snyman.
Knowlden was forced into a Polo with cloned number plates.
TimesLIVE

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
4 armed men rob Polokwane clothing store of R331k
POLOKWANE – The Polokwane police have launched a manhunt for four armed suspects involved in a business robbery at a clothing store in the city on Saturday (August 16). According to the Limpopo police, three employees were locking up the store after knocking off when they noticed an unknown African male at the door. You might also want to read: Two murders in a week shake the Polokwane CBD 'The unknown man forced the employees back into the store while three armed men entered. The suspects instructed the victim to open the safe as they were looking for money and she complied,' the Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba's statement read. The suspects stole accessories, cellphones, Bluetooth speakers and snacks before fleeing the scene in a silver Polo hatchback. Mashaba said the total value of the stolen property is approximately R331 500. 'The three victims were assaulted and sustained minor injuries. We urge anyone with information to contact Sergeant Ramehlape Mamabolo on 069 532 3260, the crime stop number on 08600 10111, the nearest police station or share information on the MySAPSApp,' he said.


Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Finally – Hawks arrest suspects in latest Nelson Mandela Bay kidnapping
Two people were arrested in a major breakthrough for the Hawks after a spate of kidnappings in Nelson Mandela Bay over the past year. Security sources have confirmed that a ransom payment in cash was handed over to the kidnappers on Saturday night, 16 August, after which Theresa Minnie, 73, was released unharmed near a police station in Nelson Mandela Bay. Minnie was kidnapped from her Fairbridge Heights home in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) last Monday at 5.30 am. Hawks spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said a collaborative effort between the Hawks' Gqeberha-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and Magama Security had 'unlocked the Minnie kidnapping case'. 'It is alleged that the victim was coming out from the gate of her homestead driving a motor vehicle, where she was apparently blocked by a Volkswagen Polo and two unidentified armed suspects alighted from the vehicle,' said Mhlakuvana. The suspects forced the victim into their vehicle and fled from the scene. Mlhakuvana said that on the same day an alleged ransom demand was made, 'the matter was handed over to the Hawks for probing'. He said investigations had ensued, and due to the pressure exerted by the multidisciplinary team, Minnie was released on Saturday night. He said she was found near the Kariega police station, unharmed, and was reunited with her family. 'An intelligence-driven operation was conducted, which led the team to the suspect's homestead in various precincts at Gqeberha, that were believed to have been responsible for the said kidnapping incident.' Mlhakuvana said the team swiftly arrested two suspects aged between 29 and 31, who were positively linked to Minnie's abduction. He said the team reportedly recovered a large undisclosed amount of cash, two vehicles and two firearms that were suspected to have been used in the kidnapping. The perpetrators are due to respectively appear before the Kariega Magistrate's Court on 19 and 20 August 2025. Investigating team hailed Provincial Hawks head, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, lauded the investigating team for ensuring that the suspects were arrested. Security sources confirmed that after Minnie's kidnapping, a multidisciplinary task team initiated a coordinated intelligence-driven investigation into the suspects believed to be responsible for the kidnapping. On Sunday morning, actionable intelligence was received on the whereabouts of a suspect in Gqeberha. It is understood that the first suspect was arrested with a significant amount of cash directly linked to the ransom. A second suspect was arrested at another location, also in possession of a large sum of cash, a vehicle used in the kidnapping and a firearm. At a house in Motherwell, the team also recovered a firearm and another large amount of cash. A second vehicle used in the kidnapping operations was also recovered. Further operations are continuing to trace and apprehend other suspects connected to the kidnapping network. Intelligence channels remain active, and coordinated strategies will continue to guide future operations. Last week, MEC for Community Safety Xolile Nqatha said in the Eastern Cape Legislature that the Hawks had a dedicated 24-hour standby team working in the Nelson Mandela Bay district. He said this team was following a 'multidisciplinary approach' and working hand in hand with tactical units, local detectives and other relevant law enforcement agencies in the district. He said an additional task team had been deployed to beef up investigation capacity. Nqatha said the provincial Hawks' Eastern Cape Serious Organised Crime had not fallen short on strategy. Over the past 12 months at least 13 kidnappings – primarily motivated by ransom demands – have taken place in Nelson Mandela Bay. When releasing the provincial crime statistics in July, Nqatha said kidnappings had increased from 14 counts in the second quarter of 2024 to 35 counts in the second quarter of 2025. Cases included: A 45-year-old teacher was kidnapped in March 2025 outside Happydale Special School in Algoa Park. Armed men dragged her from her Toyota Fortuner shortly after she arrived. She was reunited with her family three days later. It is unclear if a ransom was paid. Josh Sullivan, an American missionary, was abducted in April 2025 during a church service in Motherwell. He was rescued five days later in KwaMagaki during a police operation in which three suspects were killed. Ebrahim Moosa, a businessman from Kruisrivier near Kariega, was kidnapped in February 2025 from his business premises. He was rescued by police a week later. Two people were arrested. Two foreign nationals were kidnapped in mid-February 2025 in an undisclosed part of Nelson Mandela Bay. Police have confirmed the case, but provided few details. Investigations continue. A Somali was abducted in Gelvandale in November 2024, held for ransom and released three days later with minor injuries. His kidnappers remain at large. Qays Mohaned Hersi Mohamoud, a Somali student, was kidnapped in Gelvandale in November 2024. He was later released unharmed. Kelvin Naidoo, the deputy president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, was abducted in July 2024 and released six days later. In July, Lindsay Knowlden was kidnapped from the municipality's fresh produce market in Markman in an early-morning attack that left her husband injured. She was later released. A Cleary Estate woman was kidnapped on 3 July, and then businessman Chris Kaldelis was kidnapped in Schauderville on 8 July. In the past month, kidnappers also took a local businessman who was released earlier in August. Another businessman was taken last week in Nielson Street, Neave Industrial area, Korsten, but he was released after a community intervention without ransom being paid. Minnie was the last victim to be released by the kidnappers on Saturday night. In May, the police released crime statistics on kidnappings for the last quarter of 2024. Parliament stated that in a sample of 4,254 kidnapping incidents, 214 involved ransom demands. Most occurred in Gauteng (144), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (31) and the Eastern Cape (13). Democratic Alliance spokesperson on safety and security in the province, Yusuf Cassim, said he would table a motion to compel the MEC to immediately engage the SAPS provincial commissioner and the Minister of Police to establish a permanent 24-hour joint operations centre in Nelson Mandela Bay led by the Hawks, SAPS, Metro Police and the National Prosecuting Authority. 'This unit must coordinate real-time intelligence sharing, conduct targeted operations in hot spots, and fast-track prosecutions with clear public reporting on arrests, dockets enrolled, and convictions secured. This plan must include a confidential reporting line for residents and businesses, protection for witnesses and direct liaison with sector bodies so that information flows quickly and safely.


The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Man who raped and murdered Amantle Samane to be sentenced after admitting guilt
Amantle Samane's family faces an emotional court day as Simiao is set to be sentenced on Tuesday. The man who raped and murdered six-year-old Amantle Samane will be sentenced on 19 August after pleading guilty to all four charges against him in the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday. Pethe Sara Simiao, a 25-year-old Mozambican national, faced charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and Contravention of the Immigration Act. Amantle Samane goes missing In October last year, the community of Orlando East in Soweto joined a mother's search for her little girl after she went missing. She had last been seen playing with other children before Simiao called her to his rented shack at one of the houses in the neighbourhood. He allegedly raped and killed the girl inside the shack and then went into hiding. 'A witness, who had earlier seen the child walking with Simiao, who he knew was not a relative, became suspicious and led the community members to a shack where the child's lifeless, half-naked body was found,' National Prosecuting Authority Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said in a statement. Simiao's arrest and guilty plea After an extensive search and investigation, the suspect was located and arrested by police in Zola, Soweto, on 23 October 2024. In his plea, through his counsel, Simiao admitted to all charges. ALSO READ: Four-year-old from Eldorado Park dies after alleged abuse by father He provided a detailed account of the heinous acts he committed and confessed that he was under the influence of alcohol and had strangled Samane to conceal the rape. 'The court reviewed all aspects of the plea, found him guilty as charged and adjourned the case to 19 August 2025 for sentencing,' Mjonondwane said. 'We all broke down in tears' Samane's family members were present in court for the verdict. Speaking to TimesLive after the proceedings, the family's spokesperson Brenda Mjiyako said listening to Simiao's account of the murder was heartbreaking. 'It brought back the memories: of her last day, the pictures of where we found Amantle deceased, and the mortuary,' Mjiyako said. 'The mother broke down, we all broke down in tears. We knew this day would come but we didn't think it would be so difficult. When they were reading, step by step what had happened, you could reflect back. It was painful.' She said what Simiao did was inhuman, and that no normal human being could do what he did to Samane. Mjiyako added that it will be Samane's birthday on Tuesday when sentencing begins, which will not be an easy day for her mother. NOW READ: Man gets life sentence for raping minor with Down syndrome, claims victim is his girlfriend