KWA-THEMA, Gauteng – A 37-year-old woman who was allegedly kidnapped and rescued in Kwa-Thema, south-west of Springs in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, has been arrested together with her accomplice for staging the kidnapping.
The two suspects were arrested on Tuesday 20 October, following intensive investigations by detectives of Kwa-Thema, as well as members of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Crime Intelligence.
Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, police spokesperson, said investigations revealed that the woman allegedly conspired with her accomplice to stage the kidnapping in an attempt to extort money from her cousin.
Both suspects are expected to appear in court on charges of defeating the ends of justice, extortion, and staging a crime scene.
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Warning against false reports
The police in Gauteng strongly warn members of the public against making false reports or staging criminal incidents, as such actions divert critical police resources from genuine cases and undermine efforts to combat crime and protect communities.
Members of the public are further urged to use police services responsibly and provide truthful information when reporting criminal incidents.
The irresponsible use of the South African Police Service (SAPS) by the public involves actions that waste state resources, compromise emergency response times, or exploit the legal system for personal reasons.
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What constitutes irresponsible use of police services
The primary actions that constitute irresponsible or illegal use of police services, according to various sources, include:
Hoax calls and false emergency reporting
Abuse of the 10111 Crime Line: Making prank calls, dialling the emergency number for non-emergencies, or fabricating fake crises drains dispatch resources.
Wasting state resources: When police deploy vehicles, tactical teams, or emergency services to a fake incident, they are unavailable for genuine, life-threatening emergencies.
Opening false criminal cases (perjury)
Fraudulent insurance claims: Fabricating crimes, such as reporting a vehicle or high-value item as stolen when it was actually lost, sold, or crashed, to obtain a police case number for insurance payouts.
Malicious accusations: Filing false police reports or opening cases out of spite, revenge, or domestic disputes to tarnish someone’s reputation or gain leverage in personal conflicts.
Civil disputes misreported as criminal matters
Demanding police intervention in private matters: Forcing police to intervene in strictly civil disputes, such as neighbourhood arguments, minor boundary disagreements, or verbal contractual breaches, which do not fall under criminal law.
Enabling extortion and scams
Collusion and bribery: Citizens who actively offer bribes to avoid arrest, traffic fines, or prosecution fuel systemic corruption, compromising the integrity of the justice system.
Falling victim to and facilitating impersonation scams: While the public is often the victim, failing to verify official channels has allowed massive vishing and phishing networks to thrive. Scammers use cloned numbers, fake SAPS letters, and WhatsApp to extort citizens. The SAPS continuously reminds the public that official police business is never conducted via WhatsApp.
Vigilantism and bypassing due process
Taking the law into own hands: Assaulting suspected criminals before calling the police, or demanding that officers bypass constitutional rights and lock individuals up without due legal process or evidence.
