Kidnap victim 'a bit emotional'

2008-03-27 09:16

Hilda Fourie

Ohrigstad - Three suspects who kidnapped Limpopo game lodge owner Hennielene Botha and kept her in the boot of her car, were arrested on Wednesday.

Botha's car was also retrieved.

"I don't think I will ever get back into my car," said Botha on Wednesday. She was relieved about the arrests.

"The arrests stopped the cycle. According to the police they (the robbers) previously took people to an ATM to withdraw money before leaving them.

"I hope they arrest the fourth person as well," said Botha.

She said she and husband, Albert, 58, were doing well, but were a bit emotional on Wednesday.

Limpopo police spokesperson superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said the police had "done a good job".

The suspects were arrested less than a day after Botha, 46, was found.

Botha was abducted from her house in Iketla Lodge near Ohrigstad at about 22:00 on Saturday night.

The suspects robbed her and forced her into the boot of the family's silver-grey Toyota Corolla and drove off.

They drove around with her until about 03:00 on Tuesday before dropping her about 36km north of Hoedspruit.

The three suspects, aged 20, 28 and 29, were arrested in Tubatsi and Mecklenburg in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

According to Ramatseba the police received information that led them to the suspects.

Botha's Toyota Corolla, which had little damage, was found in the possession of one of the suspects. Several cellphones, as well as euros and dollars, were found inside the car.

The suspects were also accused of robbing foreign tourists outside Graskop on Monday afternoon.

While they were robbing the tourists, Botha cried out for help from the boot of her car.

The suspects will soon appear in the Tubatsi Magistrate's Court on charges of housebreaking, armed robbery and kidnapping.

- Beeld