Three individuals arrested in connection with the abduction of nine-year-old Emaan Fatima will remain behind bars as they await their bail hearing. Ahmad Ali, a Pakistani national, Jose Jane, a Mozambique national, and James Maposi, a Lesotho national, all appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The trio, aged between 20 and 67, face serious charges related to the kidnapping.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the suspects were remanded in custody, with a formal bail application scheduled for February 27, 2025. During the court proceedings, one of the accused’s attorneys requested more time to prepare, explaining that they had received instructions too late to properly represent their client.
Emaan was abducted on February 4, 2025, outside her school in Buffalo Flats, East London, while returning home. The kidnappers took her to an undisclosed location, holding her captive for nearly a week. Fatima was eventually released near a police station, and it is believed that a ransom was paid in exchange for her freedom.
The Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, are continuing their efforts to unravel the case. They have indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses. The kidnapping of Emaan Fatima is part of a troubling trend in the Eastern Cape, where there has been a rise in similar incidents in recent weeks.
The authorities are also investigating two separate kidnappings that occurred the previous week. On February 13, 2025, Juan Yang, 43, was abducted on Sakela Street in KwaZakhele, and just the following day, Arshad Mahmood, 47, was taken outside his business premises in Korster. So far, there have been no new developments in these cases. The Hawks continue to work diligently in hopes of finding the missing individuals and bringing those responsible for the abductions to justice.
