Potchefstroom – Five men, who were robbed of their money after they responded to a Facebook advert for the sale of maize meal, are in hot water for allegedly abducting one of the suspects who stole from them.
Narrating the turn of events, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said information received shows that five men responded to an advert they saw on Facebook about the sale of maize meal in Klerksdorp.
On Tuesday, (7 May 2024,) the buyers, who are Zimbabwean nationals, drove from Pretoria to Klersdorp intent on buying the maize meal.
“On arrival in Klerksdorp, they were taken to Extension 19 in Jouberton, to collect the maize meal,” said Lieutenant Colonel Funani.
The five men were directed into a house where they were told to wait.
Before long people, who claimed to be police officers, entered the house and robbed them of their money.
Lieutenant Colonel Funani said a case of common robbery was opened at Jouberton Police Station.
However, on Thursday, (9 May 2024), the five men hatched a plan to catch the robbers.
They persuaded a woman to respond to the Facebook advert and pretend to be a potential maize meal buyer.
A meeting was agreed and the buyer was directed to a garage in Klerksdorp.
The Zimbabwe nationals, who were monitoring the meeting venue, recognised one of the alleged robbers and pounced.
They grabbed and put him inside their vehicle and drove off in the direction of Lichtenburg.
However, the Zimbabweans were stopped by the police, near Lichtenburg.
The robbery suspect told the police that he had been abducted and was being held against his will.
In a twist of events, the Zimbabweans were arrested and charged with kidnapping.
The 40-year-old “kidnapping victim” – later identified as Tsietsi Ncipha – was handed over to Jouberton Police Station, where he was charged with common robbery.
Ncipha appeared before Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Friday, (10 May 2024), and was granted bail of R2 000.
Earlier this week on Monday, (14 May 2024), the five Zimbabwe nationals appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of Kidnapping.
They were identified as Xolani Ncube, Milton Nyoni, Mandla Ntshongolo, Joel Moyo, and Kalvin Tshuma.
They are all expected to appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court again on Monday, (20 May 2024).
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated Lichtenburg police, Klerksdorp, and Jouberton detectives for working together to arrest the suspects.
