Gauteng authorities have been applauded for the stellar work displayed in rescuing a three-year-old girl from a kidnapping syndicate.
Gauteng police make key arrests in toddler kidnapping case
In a statement, police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe confirmed the toddler was successfully reunited with her family after being held hostage for four days.
The three-year-old girl was kidnapped from a preprimary school in Springs, on Thursday 21 April 2022, by an unidentified woman “who pretended to be the little girls childminder.”
“Following her kidnapping, her alleged kidnappers had demanded millions of rands for her safe return,” Mathe revealed.
Immediately, the girl’s family reported the matter to police, possibly against instructions received from the kidnappers, and. very swiftly, a task team comprised of high-ranking SAPS detectives was formed.
From what we understand, the toddler’s family was encouraged to play along with the kidnappers and arrange a ransom pick up at an area near East Gate Shopping Mall on Monday evening.
Sure enough, the task team, accompanied by members of the Gauteng traffic department and Netcare 911 emergency medical officials, formed a parameter near the pick-up point, and at approximately 20:00, two vehicles occupied by four suspects were seen approaching the ransom location.
“As soon as the suspects arrived to collect the ransom money, the team swooped in on the four suspects and rescued the little girl,” Mathe added.
The three-year-old underwent a medical check-up and was later reunited with her family. National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola applauded the work of the task team and urged parents to “provide full names and details of the next of kin or guardians of their children at schools to ensure strangers do not have easy access to their children.”
“Well done to the team who have ensured the safe return of the little girl, well and alive. The team’s sleepless nights has definitely paid off. We also thank our stakeholders for playing their part in ensuring that together we close in on these suspects and apprehend those who are behind this crime.
“This should definitely serve as a deterrent to others who are involved in such criminality. We are surely closing in on these syndicates, their days are indeed numbered”, General Masemola said.
