News

Kariega Kidnapping Rescue: Grandmother Safe, Two Arrested

Published

2 weeks ago

August 19, 2025

Chiraag

Kariega kidnapping rescue, Eastern Cape grandmother found safe, Hawks arrest suspects, vehicles and firearms seized, South Africa crime news, community relief, Joburg ETC

When news broke that a 73-year-old grandmother had been abducted just outside her homestead in Kariega, the entire Eastern Cape community held its breath. Five days later, hope turned to relief when the Hawks and their partners brought her home and two suspects into custody.

Abduction Sparks Outcry

It was 11 August 2025 when the woman pulled out of her driveway on Crocus Street. A Volkswagen Polo blocked her path. Two armed men forced her into their vehicle and sped away. That same afternoon, her family received a ransom demand, and the entire town felt the shock.

A Coordinated Breakthrough

This wasn’t going to be one of those cases where the trail went cold. The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime team in Gqeberha, backed by Crime Intelligence, Magma Security, and the Local Criminal Record Centre, kicked into gear. Their concerted pressure paid off. On 16 August, she was found alive, unharmed, near the Kariega police station and reunited with her family.

Arrests, Seizures and Justice

Two days later, intelligence led officers to homesteads in Gqeberha tied to the kidnapping. Two men, aged 29 and 31, were arrested. The team also recovered two firearms, two vehicles, and a substantial amount of cash, all believed to be linked to the crime. The suspects are set to appear in the Kariega Magistrate’s Court on 19 and 20 August 2025.

Community Cheers, Authorities Commend

Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, head of the Hawks in the province, praised the dedicated, multi-agency effort. “This case shows the power of teamwork across law-enforcement units and our commitment to ensuring suspects face the law,” he said.

Across social media, locals expressed a blend of relief and outrage: relief that the woman was safe and outrage that such violence occurred in their town. The case has sparked fresh calls for stronger crime prevention and local vigilance, especially as kidnappers increasingly tread beyond major cities.