Mbalenhle Nkomo, a woman from Johannesburg, was reported missing over the weekend while she was on her way to a midnight church service in Newtown.
What happened to Mbalenhle Nkomo?
Her family says she was allegedly abducted by a group of men, who later released her after realising they had taken the wrong person. The incident, which caused widespread concern on social media, ended with her being dropped off at a petrol station.
According to SowetanLive, Nkomo, who lives in Windmill Park in Ekurhuleni, was found safe on Sunday afternoon. Her husband, Sandile Nkomo, confirmed that she had returned home, although she was shaken by the ordeal.
Sandile told Sowetan that his wife was abducted by unknown men who appeared to be targeting someone else.
“She alleges the abductors panicked when they couldn’t find the car tracker. They drove from Johannesburg to KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday and returned on Sunday morning,” he said.
According to him, the kidnappers released her after realising she was not the person they were looking for.
“She said they were clearly looking for someone driving a similar vehicle. She hadn’t eaten since Friday but otherwise she’s safe,” he added.
The car and Mbalenhle were both left behind by the alleged kidnappers.
After the incident, the police began examining Mbalenhle’s vehicle for fingerprints, hoping to find clues about the people involved. Her husband mentioned that highway cameras had captured the car traveling on the N3 highway near Ladysmith, in KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday morning.
This information helped the authorities trace her movements during the time she was missing.
The church service she was supposed to attend typically draws over 2,000 people, and her absence was quickly noticed.
Her disappearance was widely shared on social media platforms, with many users expressing concern and calling for help in finding her.
Kidnapping is not uncommon in South Africa
Kidnapping is a known problem in South Africa. In the 2013/2014 reporting period, over 4,100 kidnappings were recorded, and it is estimated that a child goes missing every five hours.
Some cases in the country have gained international attention, such as the kidnapping of actor Benedict Cumberbatch in KwaZulu-Natal in 2004 and the ransom case involving businessman Chen Lin in 2015.
Mbalenhle Nkomo’s case is now part of ongoing investigations.
Her family has expressed relief over her safe return and continues to cooperate with police as they search for the suspects.