Platinum Weekly Newspaper – DRAMATIC RESCUE Joint Task Force Frees Hostages, Arrests Kidnappers

Rustenburg – In a remarkable display of coordinated effort, a joint multi-disciplinary task force has included members of Provincial Organized Crime, District and Marikana Detectives, Visible Policing, the Tactical Response Team (TRT), Hostage Negotiators, Provincial and Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, the Phokeng K9 Unit The Local Criminal Record Center (LCRC), several private security companies, Sibanye-Stillwater, Impala, SSG and Bravalor Risk, as well as volunteers from the Rustenburg Community Police Forum (CPF) worked tirelessly to rescue two kidnapped victims and three to arrest. suspects on Saturday April 13, 2024.

The ordeal began on the evening of April 8, when four armed men invaded a home in Marikana West, tragically killing a 47-year-old man and kidnapping two others: a 40-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman. . The suspects demanded a ransom and sent disturbing video clips to the victims’ families the next morning.

Through brutal negotiations led by the task force, the ransom amount was significantly reduced. A ransom exchange agreement was made on April 13 at a local gas station in Rustenburg. The task force positioned itself strategically and captured two suspects, ages 23 and 32, during the transaction.

During the arrest, one suspect suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound after attempting to disarm a police officer. The ransom was recovered and the suspects, both foreigners from Lesotho, led police to a location near Boitekong where the victims were recovered safely, although they were sent for medical evaluation.

Further investigation led the team to a bush hideout at Marikana West, where more stolen items were discovered, including a plasma television and a decoder. A 31-year-old woman, also from Lesotho, was arrested in connection with the crimes.

The three suspects were scheduled to appear in the Rustenburg court on Monday, April 15, on charges of home invasion, murder, kidnapping, extortion and attempted murder.
Lt. Gen. Sello Kwena, the Provincial Police Commissioner, commended the task force for their dedication and success in bringing the suspects to justice and ensuring the safety of the kidnapped victims.

We are entering a disturbing new era where ordinary people are increasingly being targeted for ransom, often closer to home and more frequently than we might imagine. It is essential that we remain vigilant, protect our loved ones and pray that such horrors will never affect our lives.