SAPS Officers Applauded After Rescuing Kidnapped and Hijacked Woman

• Members of the South African Police Service Flying Squad in Soweto rescued a woman who was kidnapped and hijacked
• The cops were patrolling the area when they spotted two suspicious vehicles, which they stopped
• They discovered that one of the occupants was actually a hijack victim, and they arrested seven suspects

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a current affairs writer for Briefly News, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

SOWETO, JOHANNESBURG — Members of the South African Police Service in Soweto, Johannesburg, were the heroes of a woman who was kidnapped and hijacked after stopping two suspicious-looking vehicles on 28 May 2025.

SAPS stops 2 cars in Soweto

According to the South African Police Service, the officers were patrolling in the morning when they noticed a black Ford Fiesta with fake number plates and a Bronze Toyota Etios with eight occupants. The police stopped the vehicles, and with the assistance of members of the Tactical Response Team, they searched the cars.

They looked inside the car, and they found that a woman was among the occupants. A preliminary investigation revealed that seven of the occupants had actually kidnapped her after hijacking her.

SAPS rescues kidnapped woman, arrests suspects

They rescued her and arrested the even suspects. The suspects were charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition after two firearms were recovered. They also charged them with kidnapping and impersonating a police officer after discovering a police cap, a police bulletproof vest, and a docket cover. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

CCTV footage revealed how two police officers in Ekurhuleni allegedly assisted hijackers target a security vehicle on 4 March 2025. The officers stopped the car and asked for the driver's license. Two hijackers then appeared from behind the van and hijacked the security guards.

Police officers in Mpumalanga arrested a suspect after hijacking and abducting a bakery delivery van and its driver on 24 May. Two suspects appeared from behind the vehicle and hijacked it. They locked him inside the van, sold the bread, and torched the van. One suspect escaped while another was arrested.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on SAPS' Facebook celebrated the efforts of he police officers.

Lustar Justice Siwela said:

"And you'll hear people saying that police are wasting their time when stopping and searching cars, not knowing it can save other people's lives."

Junia Paulus said:

"Great work by the Soweto Flying Squad and TRT members. Thanks to their vigilance, a kidnapped woman was rescued, dangerous suspects were arrested, and illegal firearms were taken off our streets."

Roller Ross said:

"Good job, guys."

Jenine Maluleke said:

"Good job. Let's get our country back. This is for the sake of our children's future."

What you need to know about SAPS

The South African Police Service (SAPS) operates under Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It is mandated to prevent and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect citizens and property, and enforce the law. SAPS is also tasked with creating a safe environment, tackling threats to community safety, bringing criminals to justice, and addressing the root causes of crime.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is led by National Commissioner General SF Masemola, supported by three Deputy National Commissioners: Lieutenant General TC Mosikili (Policing), Lieutenant General S Sibiya (Crime Detection), and Lieutenant General FN Vuma (Support Services).

Each province is overseen by a Provincial Commissioner: Gauteng (Lt Gen T Mthombeni), KwaZulu-Natal (Lt Gen NS Mkhwanazi), Free State (Lt Gen BB Motswenyane), Limpopo (Lt Gen MT Hadebe), Mpumalanga (Lt Gen SD Manamela), Northern Cape (Lt Gen KC Otola), and Western Cape (Lt Gen Y Patekile). The Eastern Cape and North West currently have acting commissioners.

Security officers arrested for hijacking

In a related article, Briefly News reported that three security guards in Pretoria were arrested on 15 January 2025 for hijacking. The police found them in possession of a firearm and a hijacked VW Polo.

The guards were allegedly part of a hijacking gang. The cops tracked them down after allegedly hijacking the car in Hillbrow, and they were arrested.

Source: Briefly News