Cape Town mother rescued from boot after harrowing hijacking and kidnapping

A Cape Town mother has bravely recounted her terrifying ordeal of being kidnapped and hijacked in Gugulethu.

She was trapped inside her vehicle by her attackers until law enforcement and police officers intervened, rescuing her along Baden Powell Road near Sonwabi Beach, situated between Strandfontein and Muizenberg.

The 34-year-old woman who cannot be identified was grateful to be alive and thanked the team for saving her. She is a case of hope, following a nationwide shut down protest hosted by Women for Change on November 21, for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to be declared a state of disaster. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has since announced that GBV was a global and national crisis. GBV activists have expressed their relief but emphasised that she was one of the rare fortunate cases, as 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is observed.

In an exclusive interview, the woman via her boyfriend thanked the role-players who saved her life. He revealed this was not the first time that she had been a victim of crime: "She is not doing good at all, she is still crying and shaking, she is very grateful as things could have turned the other way." Her cell was taken during the ordeal. She is very grateful as things could have turned the other way.

"I just want to say to them 'thank you for saving her life, she could have been among those we read about in the newspaper.

"May they continue to serve our City and save lives. I salute them for their hard work.

"During a scuffle she was hit on her right arm and back.

"What is it that she needs to do, is receive counselling because she's going to need it as this is not her first time being a victim of a robbery."

During the early hours of Tuesday morning, while returning to her home in Crossroads from a bereavement gathering, the mother was driving along NY5 Circle, Gugulethu, when she was attacked by three men, who first tried to smash the windscreen using a brick.

The suspects then jumped into the vehicle and overpowered her and forced her into the boot of the VW Polo, which belonged to her boyfriend. They then apparently drove around with her before coming to a stop.

In a twist of fate, when her attackers left her abandoned and bound inside the vehicle along Baden Powell Road between Strandfontein and Muizenberg, vigilant police officers and law enforcement officers observed the suspicious vehicle and decided to investigate.

They could not have prepared themselves for what they discovered when opening the boot.

The woman dressed in a jeans and t-shirt was found inside the boot, with a jacket covering her head.

A local crime fighter who had been part of the processing of the scene and who cannot be identified, gave Cape Argus a blow by blow account: "Two officers from law enforcement with two additional police officers found her.

"They approached the vehicle and thought it could be criminal activity such as drugs.

"When they searched the vehicle, they found the handbag on one of the seats. They noticed the key was also still there and they knew something was not right. The car was abandoned.

"They thought maybe the occupants were on the beach.

"When they opened the boot, they got such a fright, no one expected the woman to be inside

."She was traumatized by the experience."

It is also understood that a stash of bank and credit cards allegedly linked to other crimes were also found inside the vehicle.

The Cape Argus reached out to the City for comment regarding their law enforcement officers being part of the rescue but was told to make contact with SAPS.

Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk said the suspects were still at large: "Kindly be advised that a hijacking and kidnapping case was registered at Gugulethu SAPS for investigation. According to reports the incident happened on 2023-11-24 at 01:00 at NY5 circle in Gugulethu.

The victim was rescued by the police when she was recovered in the boot of her vehicle on Baden Powell Road and she was unharmed. Investigations continue, no arrest yet."

Norman Jantjies, chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) said they were made aware of the incident.

Siya Monakali of the organisation, Ilitha Labantu who advocates for the rights of women and children shared their concerns on the spate of violence but highlighted their relief: "While we are relieved that she survived this ordeal, she is one of the few fortunate cases. For countless other women across South Africa, incidents such as these end in tragedy. What happened last night is not an isolated event, it is a continuation of the daily reality where women live at constant risk of violence, even in spaces where they should feel safe.

"As the nation marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the state of violence that women face in our country. We cannot allow this campaign to become a symbolic gesture. It must be used to confront the deep structural failures that allow violence to persist. Survivors should not have to rely on luck to escape harm, protection should be automatic and guaranteed."

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