A 34-year-old woman from the Eastern Cape is set to appear in court on Thursday after being arrested on charges of orchestrating her own kidnapping. The woman, along with a male accomplice, was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, also known as the Hawks.
According to Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, the woman is accused of deliberately staging her kidnapping in a plot to extort money from her family and boyfriend. The alleged scheme began on October 13, 2024, when the woman’s boyfriend reported that his girlfriend had been abducted. He claimed to have received disturbing images and video clips showing her tied up, with her mouth taped shut. Following the images, a ransom demand was made.
In an effort to corroborate the story, the boyfriend reached out to the woman’s sister, who confirmed receiving similar messages from the same phone number. This prompted the case to be escalated to the Hawks, who initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.
What initially appeared to be a harrowing case of kidnapping took a surprising turn when the Hawks’ Kidnapping Task Team launched a swift and disruptive operation. Investigators uncovered that the so-called victim had played an active role in the hoax. The woman allegedly conspired with her male accomplice to stage the kidnapping and extract ransom money from her loved ones, planning to split the funds between them.
Following extensive investigations, the woman was arrested earlier this week. She is now set to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning to face charges. The Hawks have indicated that further arrests are expected in connection with the case, urging anyone with information about similar incidents to come forward.
Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, issued a stern warning, emphasizing that the misuse of state resources for fabricated crimes would not be tolerated. “Those who abuse the system for personal gain will face the full might of the law,” Ngwenya stated, underscoring the seriousness of the charges against those involved in the crime.
This arrest highlights the vigilance and swift action of the Hawks in uncovering fraudulent schemes, as well as their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.
