A 37-year-old woman accused of staging her own kidnapping with two alleged accomplices in an attempt to extort money from her family has appeared in the Kwa-Thema Magistrates’ Court.
Ntombifuthi Mavis Rumo appeared briefly in court, while her co-accused, Bonginkosi Mndebele, 27, was absent as he is currently in hospital.
Both are facing charges of defeating the administration of justice.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, said that on October 7, 2026, Rumo, Mndebele and a third suspect, who has not yet been charged, met and discussed staging Rumo’s kidnapping because they were experiencing financial difficulties.
The trio contacted Rumo’s family and allegedly demanded money in exchange for her release.
However, when the family was unable to pay the demanded amount, the suspects released Rumo on October 12 and left her at Vlakfontein Road.
Mahanjana said they subsequently instructed her family to collect her from the location.
"Following a police investigation into the reported kidnapping, Rumo was arrested on 20 October 2026 after her husband brought her to the police," said Mahanjana.
Following her arrest, Rumo pointed out Mndebele to the police.
The matter was postponed to October 29 for further bail investigations and for Mndebele to appear in court.
Mahanjana said the State intends to oppose bail for both accused.
Victim found with injuries
O Sunday, October 11, that a woman reported kidnapped in Kwa-Thema had been found alive after a ransom demand of R40,000.
The woman was found on Saturday, October 10, along Vlakfontein Road, near Marikana informal settlement.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the kidnapping was reported to police on Thursday, October 8, by a family member after the suspects allegedly used the woman’s cellphone to demand the ransom.
“On Saturday, October 10, 2026, the suspects reportedly contacted the family again and indicated that they would drop off the victim at Vlakfontein Road,” she said.
Police officers, accompanied by the family, went to the location, where the woman was found with injuries to her hands.
She was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News