An argument between a couple almost led to a violent brawl and, some believe, a woman’s abduction, outside a local pub on Friday night. What started as a fun night out, could have ended in disaster, had the area’s vigilant car guards and Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit not intervened.
Hi-Tech’s operational manager, Mr Nico Grobler, explained what had led to the near kidnapping.
“The man and woman were having an argument, which led to the woman ending up in the pub’s parking lot on her own.” An eyewitness who did not want to be named, informed Nelspruit Post that the couple had been fighting outside the pub when the man got into his car and left the woman there.
Three men pulled up next to her in a small white car. They reportedly called her over and made comments like “Hey sweetie,” and “What’s up, lovey?” This made her feel uncomfortable and she chased them away.
According to Grobler, the men reacted by spraying her in the face with pepper spray, grabbing at her and trying to force her into their vehicle.
This version was disputed by the eyewitness, who said the woman and men were involved in a verbal fight, cursing to and fro, but that an attempted abduction had not taken place.
“Eyewitnesses saw what was happening and rushed to assist the woman. The suspects sped off, but their car’s registration number had already been noted,” Grobler said.
This was communicated to Hi-Tech officials all over the city and they managed to track the culprits down in Anderson Street shortly after the incident. The city’s flying squad arrested the three men and they were taken to the Nelspruit Police Station’s holding cells, where a case of assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm was opened against them.
At the time of going to print, it could not be confirmed whether the suspects had appeared in court.
