Kempton Park kidnapping survivor may help link to other women’s deaths, says The Citizen

Police have opened a kidnapping case after a woman reported missing in Kempton Park returned alive, and investigators are probing whether her account could connect to the deaths of several women, according to The Citizen.

What happened

According to The Citizen, the woman purportedly arrived at the Tembisa South police station yesterday and a case of kidnapping was opened. The publication reported that the incident reportedly took place in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.

Location details reported

According to The Citizen, sources indicated that the kidnapping purportedly occurred at the colloquially named Mosquito Park, around 150 metres from the Premier Hotel OR Tambo, where she is an employee. Police confirmed the woman’s workplace but would not confirm the exact location of the incident, The Citizen reported.

Police response

Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Dipuo Ditshego told The Citizen investigators were still at an early stage and could not provide further details.

“Currently, we don’t have the description of the vehicle (that abducted the woman) as the investigation is still premature,”

the spokesperson said, The Citizen reported. Ditshego added that investigators were not yet in a position to provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping.

Possible significance for murder investigations

The alleged abduction came amid concern in Kempton Park after several women’s bodies were discovered in and around the area in recent months. Police have said they are investigating whether the cases are connected but have cautioned against drawing conclusions while inquiries continue.

Kempton Park DA ward councillor Simon Lapping told The Citizen the woman’s survival could provide investigators with information not available in the murder cases, including how she was approached and whether details of her account correspond with evidence from the deaths already under investigation.

“It could be a breakthrough,”

Lapping said,

“but we will continue to pressure the police to prioritise this investigation. The community is living in fear, and it is spreading throughout the whole city. We cannot afford to let this slide.”

Investigation status

The Citizen reported that police said the probe is being handled by national and provincial offices and that authorities will provide more information once “all the investigation and information is gathered.”