Polokwane – Police have arrested a 44-year-old man accused of abducting a woman on Christmas Eve in Limpopo, beating her up and forcing her into the boot of his car, before driving off toward Gauteng.
The suspect, arrested for the kidnapping and attempted murder of a 42-year-old woman, is expected to be named when he appears before Modimolle Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, (22 April 2025).
Allegations are that the 44-year-old male, who works in Mpumalanga, drove to Modimolle Extension 10, where he found the complainant at her home.
Narrating events leading to the alleged kidnapping and beatings, Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that on 24 December 2024 at around 18:00, the suspect arrived from work in Mpumalanga province and found the victim at her home in Modimolle extension 10”.
Allegations are that when the woman went to fetch water from a neighbour, the suspect followed her and started to assault her.
The suspect allegedly forced the complainant to ride in his car headed for Soshanguve in Gauteng Province, said Colonel Ledwaba.
Allegations are that the suspect continued to beat up the woman during the trip.
“He subsequently locked her inside the vehicle boot,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
However, the car broke down along the way to Swartdam, about 27km from Soshanguve, where it was abandoned.
Colonel Ledwaba said that was when the complainant managed to escape.
She reported the matter to the police, and a case of kidnapping and attempted murder was registered in Modimolle.
The suspect was nowhere to be found.
Just over two months later, on 7 February 2025, a warrant of arrest was issued for the suspect.
On Wednesday, (16 April 2025), detectives acted on information that the suspect was travelling from Pretoria to Modimolle.
“The same day at around 18:00, the suspect was located and arrested along the R101 road,” Colonel Ledwaba said.
The suspect was arrested by a team of law enforcers, including Modimolle Detectives, Waterberg District Flying Squad members, and the RIU private security company.
Colonel Ledwaba said investigations were continuing.
