Alize van der Merwe kidnappers in court, but can’t be named amid continuing investigations

While three suspects have been arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Durbanville resident Alize van der Merwe and Chinese national Xiaomei Tian, the Port St Johns Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 ordered that neither their photos nor their identities be published.

Police said they believed publishing the identities of the suspects would compromise the investigation into kidnappings in the province and stressed that more arrests were imminent.

Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the three suspects, between the ages of 30 and 36, faced charges of armed robbery, kidnapping and extortion. 

“The trio was arrested by the Provincial Cash-In-Transit Interim Task Team of the Hawks together with the Tactical Response Team, Crime Intelligence, Provincial Tracing Team and hostage negotiators in September 2024,” he said.

Mhlakuvana said it was alleged that on 20 September 2024, Van der Merwe (39) was accosted while she was driving a Toyota Fortuner en route to Umngazi Resort in Port St Johns.

Read more: Police make arrests in Alize van der Merwe kidnapping case, claim major breakthrough in dismantling syndicate

In another incident, Tian (34) was also accosted on 17 September 2024 while travelling between Barkly East and Elliot.

“The investigations by the joint team ensued where the police were working around the clock. As a result, one suspect was arrested on 25 September 2024. The arrest of the first suspect put pressure on his accomplices,” Mhlakuvana said.

“As a result, the victims were allegedly dropped off by a white Toyota single cab bakkie nearby Sulenkama Police Station. Both victims were released without injuries, but [were] psychologically drained and were taken to a health facility for medical attention.”

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

He said two of the three suspects were arrested in East London.

“The trio, which is linked to both incidents, appeared before Port St Johns Magistrates’ Court on 2 October 2024 and the matter was remanded to 8 October 2024 for legal representation and a formal bail application. 

“More arrests are imminent. As per the court order, no pictures or names of the suspects could be published as the investigations are ongoing.

“The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, congratulated the team he said was ‘hellbent on uprooting the scourge of violent crimes in the province mostly by people from other provinces’.”

He said efforts by members of the public in assisting with the investigations were appreciated. DM