Two boys abducted, tied up, set alight

TWO boys aged 11 and 13 had a narrow escape after they were allegedly abducted and tied to a tree before one of them was set alight in Thembalethu, George.

Police say the boys were apparently taken from a scrapyard by the owner and driven to bushes near Ballots Bay Gate in a bakkie.

While the community has been requested to come forward with information, police say residents have refused to co-operate.

Spokesperson Captain Dumile Gwavu said: “They were tied with a rope against the tree and paraffin poured on them by the suspect.

“The suspect set one of the boys alight using a cigarette lighter and left them there. The boys managed to untie themselves and went home to report the matter. One boy sustained some burn wounds on his lower body.”

Police recovered the clothes the boys were wearing and a case of abduction was being investigated.

“The community did not want to give information to the police of who the suspect is, but the victims had already pointed out his address. The suspect had run away. The community told the police to come back when the suspect returned from work. The police were insulted in the process and the suspect has not yet been arrested. Therefore, the police urge the community to help the police with information,” said Gwavu.

“They should know that if they do not give information, at the end of the day cases will be difficult to prosecute because of the lack of evidence.The detectives will have the difficulty even to conduct arrests because the investigating officers cannot effect arrests if there is nothing that links the suspects to the cases.”

Police have urged residents not to take the law into their own hands.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10 11 or anonymously send an SMS to Crime Line on 32211.