SELLWANE KHAKHAU
The trial of a 24-year-old alleged kidnapper, Fannie Mathebula was heard briefly at the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court this morning.
The case was postponed to July 21, to allow the accused and his new lawyer, Gideon Hanekom, a chance to consult. Mathebula was arrested for allegedly kidnapping an 8-year-old girl in Glen, just outside Bloemfontein, last month.
It’s alleged that early morning on June 10, Mathebula offered the child, together with two other children – aged 10 and 15 respectively, a lift to school. All three reportedly accepted the lift.
However, two of them jumped out of the car before drove sped off. Mathebula then allegedly sped off with the youngest child, who couldn’t escape.
He was, however, stopped by traffic officials not too far from the scene, and the child was rescued unharmed. He is facing charges of kidnapping, reckless driving, theft of a motor vehicle, and malicious damage to state property. He remains in custody.
