The Hawks in the Eastern Cape say four alleged kidnappers were shot dead at a house in Keiskammahoek on Wednesday, a day before Cape Town woman Alize van der Merwe was released.
Warrant officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana says their investigation into van der Merwe’s abduction, led the team to a house in the area, where on their arrival, suspects started shooting at Police.
The team then retaliated and four suspects were killed.
Mhlakuvana says information they obtained from this scene, including information on the suspects’s phones, led the team to a house in the Qumbu area, where he says another ”disruptive operation” took place.
It is believed Van der Merwe was being held at a house in the area.
He says due to this pressure that officers exerted on the suspects, Van der Merwe was released, adding the suspects could sense that officers were closing in on them. A second victim, a 34 year old Chinese national, was also released.
READ MORE: Alize van der Merwe: Kidnapped CT woman released
The Hawks believe they are dealing with a kidnapping syndicate operating in the province.
Mhlakuvana says investigations are continuing, to establish whether the deceased suspects can be linked to these kidnappings, as well as determining how many suspects are still at large.
The two women received medical care upon their release yesterday and have been reunited with their families.
