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Hijackers hold youths hostage
30/07/2007 14:40 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Six youth workers were hijacked and kept hostage for several hours on Saturday near Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, the SA Silver Ring Thing (SRT) youth group said on Monday.
A spokesperson for the SRT youth team - which aims to discourage teenagers from having sex until they are married - said they were hijacked by seven men and then held hostage and driven around Johannesburg.
The men took cellphones and valuables from the team.
"(The hijackers) then drove around the area for some time, offering the team water and even reading a Bible belonging to one of the team members, quoting them scriptures and phrases like 'God helps those who help themselves'."
The group was released after four hours.
"The team were told to run into the bush and not look back, otherwise they would be shot," said the organisation.
They found an Engen garage from which they were taken to a police station near Orange Farm. They sustained minor injuries from being roughed up by the hijackers.
CEO of SA SRT Elvis Mvulane said on Monday: "Despite what the team went through on Saturday, they are currently on their way to do another show, at Midrand High.
"This mostly volunteer team is truly heroic and still committed to the cause above their own comfort."
Vaal Rand police confirmed the incident took place. It began when a man in a white Audi stopped to ask for directions.
At one stage during the hijacking, the hostages were kept in a locked garage, Wilken said.
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