Limpopo – Two suspects have been charged with extortion, perjury and defeating or obstructing the course of justice after police investigating an alleged kidnapping in Senwabarwana discovered the woman at her boyfriend’s family homestead.
The suspects, aged 43 and 28, are expected to appear before the Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 October 2026, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.
The case was initially reported after the alleged victim’s relatives received a call from an unknown person demanding R50,000 and threatening to kill the woman before 08:00 if the money was not deposited.
On Saturday, 17 October, members of Limpopo Organised Crime Investigations, National Crime Intelligence for Kidnappings and Hillbrow Detectives conducted an intelligence-driven operation in Gauteng as part of the investigation.
Police subsequently traced and arrested the 43-year-old man, who is the alleged victim’s boyfriend. He reportedly told investigators that he had taken the 28-year-old woman to his family homestead in Jane Furse, in Limpopo’s Sekhukhune District.
Officers went to the homestead and found the woman in what police described as good condition. She had no visible injuries and did not report any complaints.
Further investigations raised suspicions that the kidnapping may have been fabricated and that police had been deliberately misled.
According to SAPS, the male suspect had allegedly made a statement under oath claiming he did not know the woman’s whereabouts, resulting in the perjury charge.
Both suspects were taken to Senwabarwana police station, where a case was opened. They face charges of extortion, perjury and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers warned the public against making false reports and abusing police resources.
“Police resources are limited and must be directed towards genuine cases that threaten the safety and security of our communities,” Scheepers said.
He said deliberately misleading police, making false statements under oath and demanding money through threats were serious offences that could lead to criminal prosecution.
“We urge members of the public to provide truthful information and to refrain from abusing the criminal justice system,” he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
