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News in brief - Date: 09 March 2023
A 26-year-old man from Valdezia, who held an Elim Home Affairs official hostage at gunpoint, was due to make his second appearance in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Thursday, 9 March).
The suspect was arrested on 23 February and released on his own recognisance on Wednesday, 2 March.
An eyewitness, who was accompanying his wife to the Home Affairs office on the day of the incident, said the frustrated man just suddenly pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the security personnel. He then instructed all the clients inside the building to go outside. “We were scared. Only the employees were left inside the building. We immediately went to the Elim High School and phoned the police, who fortunately arrived at the scene quickly,” he said.
Scores of community members and shoppers crowded outside the building, shocked over what was happening. The hostage situation lasted for several hours. Members of the police’s special force unit were eventually deployed and managed to negotiate with the suspect, who was then arrested.
The Department of Home Affairs’ acting provincial manager, Mr Thifheli Matshaya, said the suspect had applied for his birth certificate nearly six years ago. He explained, though, why the application was not successful. “He had to be taken through the Late Registration of Birth process (LRB). The requirements for the LRB include providing copies of the client’s parents’ IDs, school records, and confirmation of residence from the local traditional leader. The client managed to have all the required documents, except a copy of his mother’s identity document.”
Matshaya said the suspect’s reason for this was that he did not know the whereabouts of his mother. “The department then requested him to take a DNA test between himself and the father. The client agreed that the test results would be provided, but hasn’t come back since then. As the DNA results were still outstanding, the office could not process his application,” he said.
Police spokesperson W/O Foster Rambau confirmed the incident and said the suspect had been charged with kidnapping.
Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area.
Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.
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