Cape Town - Community activists have urged the City and the SAPS to strengthen their fight against the kidnappings and extortion currently gripping Cape Town, the latest victim being Ukrainian Anichka Penev (35).
She is the wife of Simeon Penev, owner of Nioro Plastics, and her kidnappers have reportedly issued a ransom following her abduction outside Nioro Plastics in Blackheath on Thursday.
Leaked CCTV footage shows her surrounded by two vehicles and then forced out of her yellow sports car by a group of men who then shove her into a getaway car.
The incident happened the same day that the family of 8-year-old Lukhololwam Mkontwana confirmed that the body found behind Isiqalo informal settlement near Mitchells Plain last week was his.
The child went missing about a week ago while playing outside his Nyanga home, and is believed to have been tricked into getting into a black vehicle. While a ransom was demanded, the family were only able to put together R1 000.
They were never again contacted by the alleged kidnappers. In both matters, no breakthroughs or arrests have yet been made.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “Kindly be advised that the matters you are referring to are still under investigation, and there are no new developments to report at this stage.”
An intergovernmental kidnapping and extortion task force between the City and police has since been announced. With regard to the collaboration, the City said its officers were ready to support the SAPS.
“The South African Police Service have this week agreed to the City’s request that the SAPS utilise the services of our specialised units and form an intergovernmental kidnapping and extortion task force.”
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said: “We will refrain from giving comment on a statement issued (without due consultation) by a party outside of our organisation. Suffice to indicate that the questions posed to SAPS will be best answered by the party that issued the media statement. All crimes that threaten the lives of Western Cape inhabitants, inclusive of kidnappings, are a priority for the SAPS WC management.”
Anti-crime activist Hanif Loonat added: “We are glad the SAPS and the City have come to the realisation (that) crime will not be combated if we do not unite.
We can’t play politics with lives of our people.
You have a responsibility to protect (all citizens, regardless of which political parties they voted for). We are tax-paying, law-abiding citizens. Please protect us.”
The Muslim Judicial Council said: “Thus far, the (council) has received a detailed written response to (a memorandum we drafted and sent to the City dealing with the kidnapping crisis) from Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the City of Cape Town. We appreciate their willingness to assist in the process of developing an effective response.”
Cape Times