LOCAL

Gatesville’s Abirah Dekhta, who was located in Khayelitsha after ten days, has been reunited with her family.

It follows a joint operation wherein SAPS members from various specialised units and City of Cape Town’s law enforcement officials recovered her from a shack in Town Two on Monday evening.

The eight-year-old was kidnapped in Gatesville while in her scholar transport on November 4^th. Reports indicate that two armed suspects blocked off her driver near Amber court and fled with the girl. The driver and a young boy who was left behind received counselling.

Several suspects have since been questioned.

“The intelligence-led integrated operation saw forces descending on the township where the young girl was found. She has since been sent to a doctor for a medical assessment. Meanwhile investigations into the crime of kidnapping continue with police detectives currently questioning several individuals with a view to apprehending the perpetrators of the crime,”said Provincial SAPS spokesperson Wesley Twigg.

Public support 

Last week, residents hosted a placard demonstration along Yusuf Gool boulevard and later gathered en masse near the Athlone police station, calling for her safe return.

Gatesville Neighbourhood Watch’s Fowzia Veerasamy told VOC Breakfast that there was high police visibility at Monday’s peaceful picket, which was attended by various business owners and community members.  She noted that speculation and rumours have been rampant but that the CPF’s sought to “concentrate on facts and not fiction”.

Having been among those supporting the family from the start, Veerasamy said she was overwhelmed to hear of the little girls’ safe return. According to Veerasamy, Abirah appeared healthy and safe:

“I couldn’t believe it; I went to the house to see myself. She was sitting in the chair and she had this beautiful smile on her face. The only thing she said (was) shukran, shukran. She was sitting between her mom and dad and it was so heart-warming. We were just on another level of just being happy and glad that one child at least is safe home,” elaborated Veersamy.

Veersamy said she could not disclose whether or not ransom had been paid and that Abirah was not cross-questioned:

“We didn’t want to take her back to that scenario. That’s for the relevant people with the skills to go into those emotions. Last night was just about feeling happy that she’s at home. Getting her there was a whole process, with all the safety components of local government and having the role-players involved and us, as the activists, to keep the momentum going,” added Veersamy.

Veersamy reiterated that the CPF will continue to advocate for the safety of children in the area.

LIsten to the full conversation here.

Spike in Cape Town kidnappings 

It follows several other kidnapping cases to hit Cape Town this year, with victims often recovered from Khayelitsha or ransom demands allegedly paid. Analysts noted that foreign nationals, predominantly from the muslim community, are being targeted.

In March, Cape Town businessman Ismail Rajah was kidnapped by suspects armed with AK47’s  in front of his business, Good Hope Construction, in Joubert Street, Parow. It was only after nearly three months that SAPS National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team rescued the 69-year-old from captors in Khayelitsha. By then, the family had already departed to Dubai to facilitate a ransom demand.  Four suspects, including two Mozambican nationals, between the ages of 30 and 38, were arrested.

The case of Shireen Essop, who was hijacked and abducted along Weltevreden Road in Philippi in May, also drew the public’s attention. The 32-year-old, whose car was retrieved in  Browns Farm shortly after the incident, was discovered by the Klipfontein Mission Station Neighbourhood Watch in a traumatized state three weeks later. A 28-year-old suspect was arrested after being found in possession of stolen property believed to be hers.

Less than a month later, Parkwood residents descended on 31-year-old e-hailing driver Abongile Mafelala and beat him to death under suspicion of attempting to kidnap children in the area. Several people were arrested and taken in for questioning following the brutal attack wherein he was beaten with several objects including an iron rod, a wooden pole and a spade, as heard by the court.

Residents proceeded to strip and set his car alight, later edging his body closer to the blaze. Du Noon residents protested outside of court calling for justice, citing racism and classism. The act of mob justice laid bare the fear of residents, who claimed to act in response potential child trafficking and subsequent “prostitution and organ donations”, as well as the consequence of acting on rumours.

Six-year-old Pakistani national, Muhammad Shanawaaz Asghar, was also returned unharmed after a few days, after being taken outside his Kensington home in August. It is alleged his family paid kidnappers a ransom.  Shortly thereafter, police confirmed that a body found in bushes off Weltevreden Road in Phillipi in September, was that of eight-year-old Lukhololwam Mkontwana. His family revealed that they could not afford the R100k ransom demand by kidnappers who snatched him while he was playing with friends in Nyanga.

The murder and attempted abduction of popular Lansdowne businessman Khalied Parker in September also shook citizens. The community was distraught as the 40-year-old was fatally shot in the head by armed suspects in Imam Haron road on the day of Jumuah. It was the first case in which the suspects murdered their target.

At the time, police denied reports that any suspects were arrested, after pictures depicting a few tattooed men- presumed to be gang members went viral. The pictures were forwarded alongside a text claiming that the murder was a ‘private job’ carried out by ‘three different gangs’ for a ‘Pakistani group’, which police slammed as fake news.

Last month, the Western Cape Government moved to reassure tourists of their safety following the kidnapping of Ukranian national Anichka Penev in Blackheath. The 35-year-old is the wife of a prominent businessman and was also returned in less than week amid reports of ransom being paid.

Meanwhile, a Chinese woman, and wife of a Blue Bottle Liquor manager in Bellville was reunited with her family last week. The 27-year-old  was forced to leave the store in Strand Street by three armed men on October 19.

Anti-kidnapping task force 

An Anti-kidnapping and extortion Unit established earlier this year formed part of commitments to tackle crime in the Western Cape. A dialogue faciliated by the MJC SA in September posed pernent questions to local and national stakeholders, who committed to collaboration in the fight against crime.

READ MORE :  https://www.vocfm.co.za/national-provincial-gov-commits-to-collectively-tackle-wc-crime-at-mjc-interfaith-diaigue/

Transgressions of concern included the kidnappings and extortion of local businesses, alongside ongoing gun and gang violence and crimes affecting children. Red-tape, a lack of and improper allocation of resources and powers, as well as corruption within SAPS, were among the issues earmarked for attention.

READ MORE: https://www.vocfm.co.za/mjc-sa-releases-response-to-memorandum-on-safety-and-security-in-wc/

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety and Police Oversight, Reagen Allen, meanwhile confirmed that little Abirah is receiving trauma counselling and is expected to undergo medical assessments. He added that police are still investigating the matter:

“As of last night, SAPS and law enforcement agencies were still investigating the circumstances around her dissapearance. Various individuals are being questioned and I trust that we will, soon, be able to get to the bottom of this matter,” said Allen.

VOC

Photo: Supplied