Eastern Cape police are actively searching for a teacher who was abducted outside her school in Algoa Park, Gqeberha, on Monday morning. No ransom demands have been made.
According to authorities, three armed men driving a white Toyota Corolla kidnapped the 45-year-old educator at approximately 8am. The attack took place shortly after she arrived at the school in her grey Toyota Fortuner.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge stated that the suspects ambushed her, forcibly removed her from her vehicle, and fled the scene in their car.
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has strongly condemned the incident. Education MEC Fundile Gade described the kidnapping as a severe violation of educators’ rights, saying: “The abduction of our educators is one of the worst crimes to affect the sector. Actions like these undermine the fundamental right to life in a free and democratic country.”
Authorities have confirmed that the case is being treated as a high priority. A specialised team has been deployed to the school to provide psychosocial support and counselling for affected staff and learners.
Eastern Cape Sees Rising Kidnapping Cases
Anti-crime activists warn that the Eastern Cape is becoming a kidnapping hotspot in South Africa.
This incident follows several other abductions, including the case of nine-year-old Emaan Fatima, who was kidnapped while walking home from Dreamland Primary School in Buffalo Flats, East London, on February 4.
Between July and September 2024, South Africa recorded 4,627 kidnappings — an increase of 327 compared to the same period in the previous year. In the Eastern Cape alone, 203 cases were reported, marking a rise from the prior year’s figures.
Police investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities immediately.
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