A family of seven has been rescued by SAPS and SANDF after they were abducted in Mpumalanga and the suspects were about to cross the Mozambican border with them. The seven were rescued before their vehicle could be smuggled into Mozambique, through the Lebombo borderline.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said a woman was about to transport her kids to their grandparent's house when thugs came to her doorstep. "According to information, an elderly woman was taking her six family members, two teenage boys, two teenage girls and two toddlers, to their grandparents place at Block C from their residence in KaMaqhekeza on Tuesday night, at about 8pm," said Mohlala. He said as the family was about to leave the house, four armed men allegedly arrived at their home and forced the family members into their family vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner. "They were held hostage, then driven into the bushes towards the borderline by the assailants, who worked on the vehicle in what is believed to be disconnecting the tracking device," said Mohlala.

Mohlala said the woman's husband became suspicious when his wife did not come back home as expected. He later suspected that his family was in trouble after failing to get hold of them and immediately reported the matter to the police who also activated the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Mohlala said the teams jointly managed to rescue the victims from the bushes and the vehicle was recovered in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He added that the kidnappers managed to escape and evaded arrest when they noticed that the police were onto them. "Surprisingly, during the rescue, two extra vehicles were also recovered nearby at various locations along the borderline. The cars recovered included a Toyota Hilux double cab bakkie which was reported stolen at KaMhlushwa, as well as a Toyota (Hilux) GD-6 double cab bakkie which was reported stolen in Garsfontein, Gauteng Province," said Mohlala. The suspects are still at large, and police urge anyone with information on their whereabouts to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Meanwhile, Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has appreciated the team work executed by the SAPS in conjunction with the SANDF, in saving the lives of the victims and recovering the stolen vehicles.