5 children kidnapped for cash

AT LEAST five abducted children were returned unharmed to their homes after their parents paid ransoms via eWallet in three separate incidents in Ekurhuleni.

The cases of abduction and extortion were reported in three days, on December 1, 2 and 3.

Ekurhuleni North cluster police spokesperson Constable Zukiswa Mgijima urged parents to keep an eye on their children and to report suspicious activities in their communities.

One of the parents who spoke to The Star yesterday said her son, 6, disappeared outside their Clayville home in Olifantsfontein after church.

“I rushed outside when I was informed that my child was taken by unknown people travelling in a car. The car had already disappeared.

“The kidnappers left a note, saying they wanted a ransom of R15 000. Their instructions were simple. They also said we should not contact the police, but we did,” said the mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the boy.

She said she had worked with hostage negotiators to ensure the safe return of her son.

“We managed to raise R2 000 and paid it to the kidnappers via eWallet and my son was dropped off at KFC in Kaalfontein (10km from Clayville).

“I am lucky, as most of the time, children who are kidnapped do not return home, and when they do, they are harmed or raped. My son is fine,” said the mother.

Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane expressed concern about the escalating number of kidnappings. She encouraged parents to be cautious following the three incidents reported.

“In the first incident, a 17-year-old boy was kidnapped on December 1 at Kromiet Street, Croydon. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of R10 000.

“Working closely with hostage negotiators, the family paid R5 000 through an eWallet transaction. The child was robbed of his cellphone and R450 before being dropped off in Hillbrow, Joburg,” said Gauteng Department of Community Safety spokesperson Ofentse Morwane.

The second kidnapping, on December 2, was that of the 6-year-old boy.

“The third incident was on December3 around 4pm in Clayville Ext 21, where three boys, aged 8 and 9, were kidnapped. The suspects used a white Mazda 3 and demanded a ransom for the release of the children. The parents paid a total of R4 500 through an eWallet transaction. The children were dropped off near a Sasol garage.”