WESTERN CAPE – Siviwe Sidwell (37) and Nulgisha Fodomafuneka (48) appeared yesterday, 01 December 2022 in the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court following their arrest on 29 November 2022.

It was reported that on Monday 21 November 2022, two South African citizens were kidnapped while driving their vehicle in Mandela Park.  It is alleged that the two victims are running hair extension business (weaves) and on the day of the incident they were delivering to their clients.

The kidnappers are said to have called one of the victim’s sister on her cellphone and demanded R400 000-00 ransom. After negotiating with the kidnappers, the family agreed to pay an amount of R30 000 and the kidnappers instructed the family to pay the money via Capitec bank’s cash send. The payments were made on 28 November 2022.

On Tuesday, 29 November 2022, the suspects are reported to have begun withdrawing money at a Capitec ATM in Zevenwacht and the investigating multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Bellville Hawks, Crime Intelligence and Provincial team was monitoring the movements of the identified vehicle that was allegedly used by the kidnappers.

After the cash withdrawals, the kidnappers were confronted by the police while walking towards their vehicle and two suspects; Siviwe Sidwell (37) and Nulgisha Fodomafuneka (48) were arrested. Cellphone and cash were confiscated as well as a black VW Polo.

On 1 December 2022 while the team was trying to locate the hostages, information was received that the hostages managed to break out from whence they were kept and ran towards Monwabisi beach where they managed to call the family as well as the investigating team to rescue them.  Both victims were taken to hospital for medical examination.

The case was remanded to 13 December 2022 for formal bail application.

Source: South African Police Service