- Kidnappers have allegedly demanded R100 000 for the return of an eight-year-old Nyanga boy.
- The boy's mother says she is unable to pay the ransom.
- Nyanga police are investigating a case of kidnapping and extortion.
An eight-year-old boy was allegedly kidnapped while playing with his friends in Nyanga on Friday.
Noxolo Mkontwana was on her way home when she received a call that her son, Lukhololwam, had been kidnapped.
The kidnappers have demanded R100 000 for the boy's safe return, according to the mother.
Mkontwana said:
"They told me they had taken my son. They said, 'we have kidnapped him, and we want money'. I told them I don't have money, and that I merely work at a restaurant."
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The spokesperson for Nyanga's Community Police Forum, Dumisani Qwebe, said residents were searching for the boy.
"We heard from the area chairperson that there had been a boy who was kidnapped on Friday, around 17:00. A black car approached the child while he was playing with his friends in the street and asked him to accompany them to the shops. The boy immediately refused, stating that his mom didn't approve of him talking to strangers," said Qwebe.
One of the occupants of the car then tricked the boy into going to the shop. The boy agreed, but added that he could not be away from home for long.
"In terms of kidnapping of a child, we have to look at all angles. We were quite shocked by the kidnappers being able to immediately contact the mother," Qwebe said.
Mkontwana said her son "doesn't like being around people he doesn't know, especially men he isn't familiar with".
She said:
"If I had the money, I would give it to them, but unfortunately I don't have any money."
SAPS spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, said a kidnapping and extortion case had been opened for investigation.