City law enforcement officers have been praised for their speedy response that saw a five-year-old girl saved from hijackers.
The incident unfolded in Blue Downs on 21 May, when suspects held the father of little Fatiya at gunpoint, as they hijacked his vehicle with Fatiya still inside. According to reports, the father and daughter had just returned home from the shops.
“The hijackers forcibly removed her father from the vehicle and fled the scene with the scared little girl still inside the vehicle,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
Her father managed to flag law enforcement officers who were working nearby, alerting them to the incident. They went after the vehicle. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, named Officer Chimoney Abrahams as one of the officers who acted immediately.
“The officers immediately fled in the direction that the hijacked vehicle was last seen driving and contacted their colleagues for assistance.”
It’s believed a suspect left Fatiya on the side of the road, abandoned the vehicle, and hid in a nearby bush in an attempt to escape. That suspect was caught and arrested.
“Officer Abrahams spotted the suspect trying to remove his clothes and apprehended the 32-year-old male. He was subsequently handed over to SAPS.”
Fatiya was later found and safely returned to her family.
This past weekend, Smith, alongside Fatiya and her family handed certificates of appreciation to the officers involved in the operation.
“It was heartwarming to witness Fatiya’s family expressing their gratitude to the officers. Their swift action in apprehending the suspect and safeguarding this little girl is commendable and testament to the ethos we try to promote in the Safety and Security Directorate,” said Smith.
