Cape Town - Long hugs, kisses and tears of joy were shared at the Gatesville home of 8-year-old Abirah Dekhta who was reunited with her family on Monday evening after she was kidnapped more than a week ago.
The little girl was rescued from a shack in Town Two, Khayelitsha in a joint law enforcement operation.
Several people were taken in for questioning.
“We are very happy and relieved. She has no marks or scars and was indeed found unharmed. She is happy to be home with her family and not strangers. No words can really describe how the parents feel, they struggled to sleep or eat not knowing the whereabouts of their daughter.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the police, law enforcement, neighbourhood watch, MJC, residents and everyone who has been praying and supporting us,” family member Surely Gordan said.
Gordon said they hoped politics would be set aside when addressing kidnapping cases because collaboration yielded results.
“We are also hoping that police will put an end to these horrific crimes,” he said.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said police and City law enforcement officials located the child using using state-of-the-art technology.
“The intelligence-led integrated operation saw forces descending on the township where the young girl was found,” Twigg said.
According to Twigg, the child was taken to a doctor for a medical assessment and later reunited with her family.
The Rylands Primary School pupil was abducted on the morning of November 4 from her lift club vehicle while the driver was waiting for another pupil.
Emotions have been high in the Gatesville community with residents and business owners taking to the streets at the weekend and on Monday in protest against kidnappings. They demanded the safe return of Abirah and for arrests to be made in all kidnapping cases.
Last week a 27-year-old Chinese woman, the wife of a Blue Bottle Liquor store manager in Bellville, was reunited with her family.
She was kidnapped inside the store last month.
The two rescues came as Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile, police management and Police Minister Bheki Cele were set to launch the Safer Festive Season programme in Mitchells Plain on Tuesday.
Cape Times