Alize van der Merwe and a second kidnapping victim dropped off at police station in Eastern Cape

The Hawks confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Alize van der Merwe (39) and another kidnapping victim were dropped off at the Sulenkama Police Station in the Eastern Cape.

Read more: Woman kidnapped on way to popular Port St Johns resort 

Hawks spokesperson Ndiphilwe Mhlakuvana said the second kidnapping victim, a visitor to the area from China, was taken on the road between Barkly East and Elliot three days before Van der Merwe.

“It looks like they were kept in one place,” he said.

Mhakuvana said the Hawks put the suspects under pressure, and he believes that this is why the women were dropped off at the police station. Sulenkama is about 180km from Port St Johns and 130km from Elliot. 

“The investigators are still talking to them, but they will soon take them to the closest health facility for medical treatment,” he said. 

At this stage, Mhakuvana said they hadn’t linked this case to the shooting incident where four suspects were killed and a fifth wounded when the police’s tactical response team searched a house in Keiskammahoek on Wednesday. Keiskammahoek is about a five-hour drive away from where the women were found.

Read more: Police kill four suspected kidnappers in Eastern Cape

“The Hawks can confirm that two kidnapping victims, a 39-year-old and 34-year-old, were released by the suspects on 26 September 2024 at approximately 12.15 in the afternoon. It is reported the victims were dropped off by a white Toyota single-cab bakkie near Sulenkama Police Station. Their release came after the pressure exerted by the police on the suspects. Further reports divulged that the victims are traumatised, and they are going to be taken to the nearest hospital for medical attention,” he added.

Mike Bolhuis Investigators confirmed in a statement that one of the women was Van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe was kidnapped on 20 September 2024 at about 1pm.

She had been travelling towards Umngazi Resort at Port St Johns, driving a Toyota Fortuner ,where she was accosted by unknown suspects. Her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned not far from the resort. DM