Durban hostage drama ends peacefully as woman and child freed

A tense hostage situation in Wentworth, south of Durban, ended peacefully on Sunday morning after negotiations led to the safe release of a woman and her young child, with the suspect taken into custody.

The Witness reports the incident unfolded shortly before 06:00 near Alabama Road, where a man believed to be in his 40s allegedly held his wife and their child, aged between four and five years old, hostage inside a vehicle.

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the area was immediately cordoned off as police and hostage negotiators responded to the scene.

“It was believed the man was armed and holding his family against their will,” Jamieson said.

He said multiple role players, including police negotiators and emergency services, were on site as negotiations continued throughout the morning.

Just after 10:30, ALS Paramedics observed the suspect release the child, who was unharmed.

“About 10 to 15 minutes later, the man released his wife,” Jamieson said.

The suspect was then arrested without further incident.

Jamieson said ALS Paramedics attended the scene at the corner of Jonas Road and Austerville Drive, after the suspect had attempted to leave a nearby block of flats with his wife and child before being stopped by police.

Just before 11:00, the hostage situation ended in success.

Jamieson said that road closures in the area, which had been in place for several hours, have since been lifted and traffic has reopened.

Jamieson said the incident occurred within the Wentworth SAPS policing area, where police will now conduct a full investigation.

“At this stage, the events leading up to the hostage situation are not yet known,” he said.

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