Swift arrest after 6-year-old’s abduction
THE 56-year-old man charged with the kidnapping of a sixyear-old Pietermaritzburg boy appeared briefly in the city’s magistrates court yesterday.
Dumisani Majola was arrested on September 2, within two hours of the abduction, and the child, Mpilo Ngwenya, the son of a local magistrate, was returned to his distraught but relieved parents unharmed.
It is alleged that Majola, who was traveling in his Honda Ballade with a dent on the right side door, entered the Prestbury complex where the Ngwenya family lives on Fri- day afternoon.
Majola allegedly saw Mpilo, who was still dressed in his pre-school uniform, playing with other children in the complex gardens.
According to police, Majola lured Mpilo into his car with R10 and then sped off.
The police were immediately alerted to the kidnapping and sprang into action.
The message of Mpilo’s abduction also quickly went viral on Whatsapp crime alert groups and Facebook.
From the description of the car, police pieced together that Majola was allegedly arrested a week earlier on a drunk driv- ing charge.
After just two hours of tracing Majola’s movements, police found him parked at the side of a road in Edendale. Mpilo was found unharmed and was reunited with his parents.
Majola allegedly told police he was drunk and did not know why he had taken Mpilo.
At his court appearance yesterday, the state prosecutor indicated that bail would not be opposed.
Majola was to make his bail application today.
Mpilo’s father, Sandile Ngwenya, said yesterday they were relieved and thankful that their son was safe.
“He was emotionally shaken, but is in better spirits today. We are very grateful to the police for working so swiftly in bringing our son home to us. Now justice must take its course,” he said.