Kidnapped members of Khoja family safely back home

The Khoja family kidnapping had a relatively happy ending when the mother and son were ultimately found and returned home safely. The two were discovered at Manamani outside Thohoyandou on Friday, 22 March. However, details of how they gained their freedom remain scarce as both the police and the family remain tight-lipped about the circumstances leading to their discovery.

Information gathered from sources at Manamani, where they were found, suggests that the two were left alone in a house in the village. The boy is alleged to have managed to untie himself and then free his mother.

W/O Vuledzani Dathi of the Vhembe SAPS confirmed that the two were safely back home. Though he could not share more information, he confirmed that the two were found in the village. “The two kidnap victims from Thohoyandou Block F were found at Manamani village, and they are now reunited with their family. There is no visible physical harm. We have opened two counts of kidnapping, and members of the Provincial Task Team are investigating the incident,” he said.

The two were kidnapped on Tuesday, 19 March, at the gate of their home in Block F. The mother had just picked up her son from school. A black Volvo V40 or V60 sedan suddenly pulled up beside them, and two men forcefully dragged them into their car, which later sped off.

The kidnapping sent shockwaves and fear throughout the Indian community, who feared a revival of the period of kidnappings that climaxed two years ago. Before the two were found, a large prayer service was held at the victims’ home for their safe return. The family expressed their trauma and stated they were still trying to come to terms with the ordeal.

Whether the family had paid the alleged ransom of R7 million demanded by the kidnappers is not known as neither the family nor the police would confirm it.

News - Date: 28 March 2024

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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