PREVIEW: ‘ISIS abduction’ instills fear of terrorist attack in Vryheid
Manager at Bivane Dam, Dawie Cronjé, speaks about the Cape Town based couple that disappeared after their overnight stay and possible links to terrorist group, ISIS.
THE disappearance of a Cape Town based couple, who are believed to be abducted by a ‘cell’ group linked to ISIS, has instilled widespread fear regarding the safety of tourists in Vryheid.
Rodney Saunders (74) and his wife, Rachel Mary (63), were last seen at Bivane Dam on February 9.
Manager at Bivane Dam, Dawie Cronjé, said the couple travelled around South Africa in a Land Rover that was kitted out for the time they spent in the bushveld.
“They have been here at Bivane Dam before. They saw the board for the Dam while they were travelling a few years ago and decided to stop here. ThYe loved the camp site at the river, and stayed over a few times since then,” said Mr Cronjé.
“All I know is that they came late in the evening, spent the night and they booked out again early the next morning. This was the last place they were seen, and when they left here, they never arrived at the next place they were supposed to go to. The abduction did not happen at Bivane Dam and may not have even have taken place near Bivane Dam.”
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Following investigations by the Hawks Crimes against the State, the Durban Serious Organised Crime Unit and Durban Crime Intelligence KZN, Sayfydeen Aslam Del Vecchio (38) and Fatima Patel (27) were arrested in connection with the abduction on February 16 and appeared briefly at the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court the following Monday. The two are scheduled to appear at the Verulem Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday) for a formal bail application.
They are facing charges of kidnapping, robbery and arson in respect of several hectors of sugar cane fields that were torched and destroyed in 2017 to the value of R2 million at Hullets plantations and possible contravention of Protection Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorists and Other Related Activities (POCDATARA).The Priority Crime Litigation Unit (PCLU) from the NPA is providing assistance with the prosecution.
This Monday, a 19-year-old from the Ndlovini area was placed under arrest as the third suspect in the abduction.
“The elderly couple has not not yet been found at this stage. A dedicated team is on the ground following all possible leads. Meanwhile, we hereby appeal to members of the public to provide any information that could assist the ongoing investigations in locating the missing couple to call: 086010111 or SMS to crime line 32211 anonymously, alternatively to contact Colonel Flynn: 0798866792,” said Hawks communications officer, Captain Lloyd Ramovha.
Read what Captain Ramovah, Mr Cronjé, AbaQulusi tourism officer, Alet Swanepoel, and Vryheid commander of VISPOL (Visible Policing), Lieutenant Colonel Allan Westermeyer, have to say about crime and the likelihood of a terrorist attack in Vryheid in today’s print edition of Vryheid Herald.
