By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police have confirmed that an 11-year-old girl kidnapped outside a school has been rescued.
The grade 5 learner was waiting to get her temperature screened and sanitized when 3 armed men snatched her.
Eyewitnesses then said the men were in a white/silver Toyota Yaris. The girl was taken outside the gates of EP Baumann Primary School at 07h11am on Wednesday, 17 November.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said on Wednesday the little girl had been found.
Netshiunda said that members of the Crime Intelligence Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, assisted by the Johannesburg Flying Squad pounced on a house in Devland, Soweto around midnight.
“The girl was rescued unharmed and was taken to a medical facility for medical examination. She has since been reunited with her family,” Netshiunda said.
He added that the suspects who were at the house evaded arrest and that a 40-year-old man was arrested in Mozambique on 31 December. Interpol was busy with the extradition process.
“Two other suspects, Ayanda Kekana, 50, and Fortune Kambule Ndlovu, 36, were arrested in December 2021 in connection with the same kidnapping and their bail application was denied when they appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on 7 December 2021.
“They are due back in court on Friday, 7 January. The Grade 5 pupil was abducted while she was waiting to be sanitised and screened outside the school gate. Her alleged kidnappers were reportedly driving a new-shaped silver/white Toyota Yaris with the registration number JS 62 CS GP.
In November, the story made national headlines after the girl was abducted at gunpoint at EP Baumann Primary School while she was waiting to have her hands sanitised outside the school gates.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said he is delighted that an 11-year-old girl learner, who was kidnapped last year, has returned home safely.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Gauteng Department of Education said the grade 5 learner’s mother received a call from the police this morning informing her to fetch the child at the police station.
Lesufi said he was delighted to receive the good news of the safe return of the learner.
“We will avail our Psycho-Social Unit to provide additional counselling to her, given the trauma she has faced during this unfortunate incident,” Lesufi said.