A 25-year-old e-hailing driver was rescued by Steenberg SAPS officers on Southampton Road in Heathfield on Saturday 12 September 2026 after he was allegedly kidnapped, raped and held for R4 000 ransom. Five suspects – two women aged 23 and 34, and three males aged 16, 42 and 48 – were arrested at the scene, Western Cape police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said in a media statement on Sunday.
Cape Flats News independently verified the details of the rescue and arrests with the SAPS Western Cape office after the statement was issued at 10:26 SAST on 13 September 2026. The victim has not been named, and police have not released the exact address on Southampton Road where he was found.
“Police were informed by the victim’s brother, who was contacted by the suspects, demanding R4000 cash to release him. They located the victim through his vehicle tracker and found him at Southampton Road in Heathfield. According to reports, the victim met one of the female suspects last week through his e-hailing business. They exchanged numbers and communicated throughout the week and eventually made arrangements to meet. When he went to meet her, he was kidnapped by the suspects, and the females raped him.”
Police allege that the driver met the 23-year-old woman while working the previous week. The pair reportedly swapped numbers, stayed in contact, and agreed to meet on Saturday. Officers say the driver was ambushed by the group at the meeting point, bundled into the vehicle, and taken to the Heathfield location where the two female suspects sexually assaulted him.
While the driver was being held, the group called his brother and demanded R4 000 for his release. The brother alerted police, and Steenberg detectives used the e-hailing vehicle’s tracking device to pinpoint its location on Southampton Road. When officers arrived, they found the driver and arrested all five alleged offenders.
The arrested individuals include a 16-year-old boy, who under the Child Justice Act must be processed separately and may appear in a child justice court. It is not yet known whether all five accused will face identical charges. SABC News reported that the group faces counts of rape and extortion, though the SAPS statement did not list formal charges.
The R4 000 ransom demand is markedly low compared to other kidnapping-for-ransom cases in Cape Town, where demands often run into six figures. Vehicle trackers have repeatedly been the decisive factor in locating victims across the city, and Saturday’s rescue adds to a string of cases in which the technology proved critical.
The suspects remain in custody ahead of their first appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday 14 September 2026. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear whether the accused have legal representation or will apply for bail.