Kidnappers reportedly abducted the woman from La Mercy and held her in a sugarcane field.
Key Points:
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Kidnappers abducted Zine Mtshayisa in La Mercy and demanded a ransom.
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The kidnappers released her after her family did not pay the ransom and stole her belongings.
- The kidnapping incident follows another case involving an American pastor in Eastern Cape.
Woman Goes Missing After Leaving Work
A 30-year-old woman, Zine Mtshayisa, allegedly got kidnapped in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, but she returned home safely. Mtshayisa went missing after leaving her workplace on South Beach Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) reported that Mtshayisa’s relative arrived at their headquarters after hearing about the kidnapping. She explained that she and Mtshayisa lived together in Hammonds Farm, near Waterloo, on the north coast.
The Ransom Demand and Kidnappers’ Threats
Mtshayisa usually boards a minibus taxi on the M4 in La Mercy after work. She failed to return home as expected that afternoon. Later, she contacted her cousin in Umlazi, informing her that kidnappers had abducted her. She said that they would release her if R3,000 was sent via e-wallet to her phone number. According to RUSA, Mtshayisa also claimed the kidnappers held her in a sugarcane field before the call was abruptly cut off.
Her cousin later received six threatening voice notes from the kidnappers, demanding payment for Mtshayisa’s release. Concerned, the relative sought advice from a Warrant Officer in the Rapid Rail Police Unit (RRPU). The officer urged her to file a criminal case at the local police station immediately.
Victim Released and Family Left Stunned
In an update, RUSA confirmed that Mtshayisa returned home later that same day. According to her cousin, Mtshayisa waited for a taxi on the M4 when two men in a red vehicle forced her into their car. They drove her to a cane field in Mount Moreland, where they demanded the ransom. When her family failed to make the payment, the kidnappers stole Mtshayisa’s cellphone and wallet, which contained R150. They released her shortly after. Mtshayisa then walked home.
This incident follows another kidnapping case involving Josh Sullivan, an American pastor. Gunmen abducted Sullivan during a church service in Motherwell, Eastern Cape, last week. The Hawks reported that they found Sullivan in a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha.
