Four (4) suspects that held three (3) woman against their will for two 2.5 hours with intention to murder them have been arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) & the South African Police Services (SAPS).
A female ran up to a RUSA Response Vehicle in the Canelands Industrial Area in Canelands – Kwazulu Natal requesting assistance after she escaped from four armed suspects that were holding her mother and friend hostage in an informal settlement nearby. The 15 year old explained that she together a female friend and her mother were walking in the area near the abandoned train station when four men accosted them. She recognised one man as her mother’s ex boyfriend.
They produced knives & a gun and forced them to e nearby home. They held the woman captive for two & a half hours and repeatedly assaulted them whilst discussing where they would bury the bodies when they were killed. The 16 year old managed to escaped when she insisted on using the bathroom. She then fled to the Industrial area for assistance believing that her mother had already been murdered.
Reaction Officers immediately planned an operation with Verulam SAPS Crime Prevention (CP) Unit and within minutes stormed the home. The victims were rescued and the suspects were arrested. Several knives, a 9mm pistol and ropes were recovered in their possession.
The woman suffered mutiple injuries. When interviewed the victims informed Law Enforcement that she had criminally charged her ex boyfriend for assault in February 2024 & he had intended on murdering her to avoid her testifying in court.
The men were known to belong to a notorious gang operating in Canelands – KZN.
