Johannesburg - The distraught family of kidnapped Nkangala municipal manager Maggie Skhosana are praying for her safe return and that of her personal assistant and driver, Gugu Mtsweni.
Skhosana not only relies on her wheelchair to get around, she is reportedly also diabetic and there are fears for her health without her medication.
There are reports that the alleged kidnappers have demanded a R5 million ransom for the release of the two.
According to the Middelburg Observer, Morney Vos from Mike Bolhuis Specialised Security Services is heading a specialised task team working in conjunction with the police.
Vos told the Middelburg Observer that investigators had received voice notes from both women, indicating that they might be safe for now and a R5m ransom demand has also been received. It is also reported that the ransom is expected to be in hard cash.
Skhosana, a mother of four, and Mtshweni were kidnapped last Thursday outside the municipal offices in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, before they could enter, allegedly by men impersonating police officers.
It is alleged that an unmarked vehicle with blue lights stopped next to their vehicle minutes before they disappeared.
Personal belongings, including the car and Skhosana’s wheelchair, were recovered near a mine in Middelburg.
Skhosana family spokesperson, Pieter Skosana, said the family confirmed that Skhosana and Mtsweni were kidnapped at about 8am in front of guard officers.
“But surprisingly, the family was only informed around 4pm. We are pleading to all South Africans to pray with the family and assist,” Skosana said.
Nkangala District Municipality mayor Leah Mabuza in an interview with a broadcaster, said they did not suspect the kidnapping to be related to municipality dealings.
“We know that the big project that we’re implementing into Nkangala district has a lot of interests. And in that interest, we want to report that there were no hindrances of any other person that might come forward and say I am interested and I want these projects. We had to run that process mostly up to its finality on appointing the service provider and the municipal manager was (involved)…” Mabuza said.
ANC Mpumalanga spokesperson Ngelosi Ndlovu joined the party’s REC of Nkangala, the municipality and the entire community in urging people who have any information to urgently inform the police.
“As the ANC, we have confidence in our law enforcement agencies and remain very hopeful that the culprits will be arrested soon, and the municipal manager and her driver will be found in good health. We call for calm and maximum support for the Skhosana and Mtshweni families,” Ndlovu said.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdluli, said they were still searching for the victims.
“Police are continuing with investigation, we are still looking for the two women. We are appealing to anyone with information to come forward,” Mdluli said.
Mpumalanga police are investigating a case of kidnapping at Middelburg. Last week, police said reports at their disposal indicated that the victims were stopped by suspects in a white sedan wearing police uniforms.
Immediately after the incident was reported, police launched an investigation and the victims’ vehicle was recovered abandoned in one of the surrounding mines in Middelburg.
The wheelchair and other properties belonging to the victims were also recovered in the abandoned vehicle, with no sight of the victims.
Police said anyone who can assist police locate the victims and information on their whereabouts may contact Lieutenant-Colonel Mandla Motha on 082 462 2746.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemned the abduction and promised to leave no stone unturned to save the victims’ lives.
The Star