In just a space of weeks, Mpumalanga has once again been hit with a kidnapping incident.This time three employees, two women and a man, were kidnapped from a farm in Komatipoort last Sunday evening.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the alleged kidnappers ambushed the employees whilst armed with pangas and held them hostage.

Mohlala added that a fourth employee was hiding underneath a tractor when the incident happened and that's how he survived the ordeal.

"The police were alerted by the families of the employees who became worried when they couldn't reach them for days and a case of kidnapping was opened.A team of experts was immediately established to probe the matter," he said.

Mohlala said the team included several units of the SAPS including the Tactical Response Team, K9 unit, detectives from Komatipoort SAPS,Crime Intelligence Unit, hostage negotiators, as well as officials from the department of health.

"All the victims were fortunately freed by their capturers though these kidnappers are still at large. The team is working around the clock to ensure that these perpetrators are soon brought to book.The victims are currently traumatised, however, they are receiving the necessary support needed as well as medical care in hospital," he said. Mohlala said preliminary investigation by the police indicated that the victims were subjected to gross human violation during the ordeal.He added that SAPS believes the assailants were Mozambican.

"the motive for the kidnapping is unknown at this stage," he said.

A week ago Zimoja reported about a woman and six children who were rescued just before kidnappers crossed the Mozambican border with them. They were rescued by SAPS and SANDF just before their Toyota Fortuner was smuggled into Mozambique. The family was about to leave the house when four armed suspects allegedly arrived at the house and forced the family members into their family car and drove off with them.