It has been confirmed that the Nkangala District Municipality’s Municipal Manager, Maggie Skhosana, had been kidnapped outside the gates of the municipality in Middelburg yesterday.

Skhosana, who is in a wheelchair, was allegedly accosted by men driving a vehicle with blue lights outside the gates of the municipality. Sksosana was apparently in the vehicle with another female. The female passenger normally drives Skhosana to work in the mornings.

Gang members allegedly got into the car and forced the female driver to speed away from the municipal premises. Video footage of the incident has been widely circulated.

According to a reliable source within the municipality the rumors of the kidnapping, circulating on, “is 100% true”.

“She was not alone and police are now looking for two women,” the source told Middelburg Observer. According to the source the municipality will be releasing an official statement later today.

Police have launched a search and rescue operation, after Skhosana’s wheelchair was found abandoned next to the road en route to Kriel. Her vehicle was also recovered abandoned next to the road. There was no sign of either of the women.

A search around the area where the vehicle and wheelchair was recovered, yielded no clues as to where the women may have been taken.

Its currently unclear what the motive behind the kidnapping is and police is calling on anyone with information to assist with finding Skhosana and her driver unharmed.

People with information should contact their nearest police station. Details around the driver’s identity have not been released yet.

Nkangala staff have apparently been left traumatized by the brazen daylight kidnapping.

“Staff have been praying for her safe return and the mood remains understandably somber,” the source says.

Spokesman, David Masombuko, told Middelburg Observer that the municipality is still gathering facts and will address the incident in a formal press release later today.