Police have arrested a suspect in the kidnapping and assault of a woman in Soshanguve, Gauteng, after he spent months in hiding.

According to Pretoria Rekord, the 44-year-old was taken into custody on Wednesday after detectives tracked his movements and intercepted him while he was travelling.

He is expected to appear in the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says the suspect is accused of severely beating a 42-year-old woman and forcing her into the boot of his vehicle. The victim escaped when the car broke down.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that on December 24, around 18:00, the suspect came from work in Mpumalanga and found the victim at home. The victim went to fetch water at her neighbour’s and the suspect followed her, and started to assault her,” adds Ledwaba.

Ledwaba says the suspect drove with the victim to Soshanguve, assaulting her along the way.

“He subsequently locked her inside the boot. The vehicle apparently had a breakdown along the way to Swartdam and was abandoned, so the victim managed to escape.”

Police have since been working to locate the suspect. A warrant of arrest was issued in early February, and detectives continued gathering information on his whereabouts.

Ledwaba says officers received a tip-off that the suspect was on the move and arrested him on the R101, en route from Pretoria to Modimolle, on Wednesday.

“The suspect had evaded arrest for months, but the team remained persistent and acted swiftly once credible information was received. Let this arrest be a clear message; no matter how long it takes, we will not rest until justice is served,” adds Ledwaba.

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