Tebogo Msimanga |
The police in Tzaneen have launched a manhunt for a group of suspects using social media to lure unsuspecting job seekers about non-existing employment and end up kidnapping them, robbing them and then going to an extent of humiliating them to extort more money from relatives.
This is after three victims were brought to Tzaneen police station by a motorist on Sunday 29 May 2022 after they allegedly suffered a life-threatening ordeal at the hands of kidnappers.
Limpopo Police Spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the three victims, a male person aged 27 and two women aged 21 and 33 allegedly responded to an advert on Facebook about employment in Tzaneen. “The unsuspecting victims boarded taxis from Jane Furse, Groblersdal and Thohoyandou respectively, after they were individually directed by the suspects through WhatsApp to a certain spot in Tzaneen for job opportunities”.
Mojapelo said the four suspects were waiting for the victims at a filling station in Tzaneen and thereafter boarded a taxi towards Bolobedu. “They took the victims to a secluded bushy area where they allegedly robbed them of their cellphones, money and clothes. They then ordered them to strip naked, took pictures and sent them to the family of one of the victims and demanded money for their release”.
Mojapelo further said the suspects then allegedly ordered the male victim to rape one of the women. “The victims were found by a motorist along the road hitchhiking and took them to Tzaneen police station at about on Sunday morning, 29 May 2022”.
Anyone with information may contact Lieutenant Colonel Tshinyadzo Roday Ndou on 082 807 2666 or the crime stop number 08600 10111, The Police investigations are continuing.
