The Gauteng Police Force arrested a 37- year old woman along with her accomplice in the crime of staging her own kidnapping from Kwa-Thema, in Ekurhuleni. The police officer arrested both the suspects on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The woman is identified as Ntombiuthi Rumo.
The arrest of both the suspects was done after the intensive investigation done by the Kwa-Thema Detectives in collaboration with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Crime Intelligence. During the investigation officers found that Rumo allegedly conspired the whole kidnapping in an attempt to extort money from her cousin.
Moreover, both the suspects are expected to appear in court, on charges of defeating the ends of justice, extortion and staging a crime. Colonel Dimakatso Nehuhhuwi, spokesperson of the Gauteng Police force warned the citizens for disturbing peace in the community includes making false reports or staging criminal incidents. She further requested members of the public to use police services responsibly.
She said, “These divert critical police resources from genuine cases and undermine efforts to combat crime and protect communities”.
According to a police report, the Kidnapping took place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Rumo disappeared after boarding a taxi travelling towards Duduza. Her parents received a call from a unknown men on Rumo cellphone in which men demanded R40, 000 ransom for her release.
The parents also received messages and a horrific video in which Rumo was naked, injured and pleading to her mother for help. Rumo’s mother also shared her fear to the media houses regarding her daughter’s kidnapping. She said, “It was painful when I heard everyone talking about it. And they’ve been posting her picture, I didn’t want to see those pictures”.
Additionally, Rumo was found near a cemetery in Kwa-Thema on Saturday night, October 10, 2026, after allegedly being abandoned by her captors. She was badly bruised and gaining consciousness she ran to a nearby area for help. When she was taken to her family, they rushed her to hospital for medical assistance.
Notably, a similar case like Kwa-Thema was reported in Senwabarwan, Limpopo where police officers arrested a 28-year old woman and her alleged 43-year old boyfriend for staging women kidnapping for R50,000 ransom from the women’s relatives.