Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
31 July 2024
Sibongokuhle Nelisiwe Mkhwanazi (21) female, Caleb Kamahelo Sebatane (23) male, Thabang Elim Mndebele (35) male, Dineo Masesi Zondo (41) female, Dumisane Zondo (33) male, Nkosingiphile Emelda Nkosi (48) female, and Mpumelelo Patricia Mkhize (42) female, who were previously found guilty of shoplifting, were remanded in custody by the Kriel Magistrate Court on Monday, 29 July 2024.
Their appearance is in connection with the kidnapping incident of a minor at a high school in Kriel, Mpumalanga, on Monday, 22 July 2024.
It is alleged that the accused called the mother of the victim, who is a businesswoman, and demanded a R200 000 ransom in order to release the minor.
The complainant told them that she did not have the demanded ransom but only had R9000.00.
She was given three bank accounts to deposit the money in cash. After the money was deposited, the suspects withdrew the funds.
The investigation led the team to Vorsloorus and Kriel, where the accused were arrested, respectively. The accused appeared in Kriel Magistrate Court twice already, and the case was postponed to Friday, 02 August 2024, for the three accused to appoint private lawyers, while the four opted to be assisted by the state. The seven suspects remain in custody, and the investigation continues.
