Two men have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a Stellenbosch student, after allegedly demanding R200,000 from her parents on the morning of the incident. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has secured a forfeiture order for R89,000 found in their possession, believed to be the proceeds of the crime.
The student's ordeal began on October 2, 2024, after a night out in Stellenbosch. While walking back to her residence at around 2:00 AM, she was abducted and threatened with a firearm. The kidnappers forced her to make a video for her parents, demanding R200,000. The video was sent to the student’s mother via WhatsApp just after 04:00.
After negotiations, the student's parents transferred the ransom money. The kidnappers then allegedly booked her a Bolt taxi, gave her R200, and drove off.
During the investigation, CCTV footage showed a BMW arriving at a petrol station and a man withdrawing money from ATMs. Police later stopped the BMW on the N2, near Groot Brak Rivier, heading towards George. Two men inside the car were detained, and R89,000 in cash was seized.
One of the men is an e-hailing driver, who is said to be using a profile registered to someone else. One of the suspects claimed the student was in on the deal, but this has not been substantiated.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the criminal case is still pending, with the accused back in the dock on 3 March. The forfeiture order was granted on Thursday. The student and her parents’ identities have been withheld on legal advice.
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