Hiiraan Online

By Shakirah Thebus

Cape Town - The Somali woman reportedly kidnapped from her father’s shop in Delft last week by armed men is confirmed to be with her husband.

Last week, it was reported that a 15 to 17-year-old Somali girl was kidnapped from Delft South by five men, four black and one Somali national, who had also pistol-whipped her father at the shop.

Other media outlets indicated that a ransom demand of R600 000 was made.

Somali Community Board of South Africa chairperson Abdirizak Ali Osman, however, said the incident was not accurately reported.

Osman has been in touch with the woman’s in-laws who helped facilitate a call with the woman. Osman said the woman who is 20 years old, married and is currently with her husband.

“I spoke to her this afternoon (yesterday) and she confirmed that she had been with him of her own consent. Nobody forced her and there’s nothing such as a kidnapping,” Osman said.

He previously said the woman was removed from her marital home by her father following a dispute. Osman said he was still trying to get hold of the woman’s father to ascertain what happened on the day.

“That’s what they didn't tell me. They said that didn’t happen. The man just went to the house and she willingly went with him to the previous house. I can neither confirm nor deny what happened at the shop on Tuesday.”

Many of the local shopkeepers were unaware of the kidnapping, including local ward councillors.

Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi directed all queries related to the kidnapping to the spokesperson of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) for a response.

Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani confirmed that they were busy with an investigation.

“The investigation is at a sensitive stage and no information can be divulged at this moment,” Hani said.