The search continues for 39-year-old Alize van der Merwe who was allegedly kidnapped while on her way to a Wild Coast holiday resort on Friday last week.
Van der Merwe, from Cape Town, was travelling on the N2 from East London to the Umngazi resort in Port St Johns when she was abducted by unknown suspects at about 1pm.
Her rented Toyota Fortuner from Hertz Vehicle Hire was found not far from the resort.
On the same day, at about 3.13pm, her family received a phone call from the suspects demanding ransom money.
An alarming increase in kidnapping incidents have been reported in the Wild Coast over the past few weeks.
Specialist private investigator Mike Bolhuis said an intensive investigation was under way in the search for Van der Merwe.
“She is still in the broader area where she left,” Bolhuis said.
“It’s an intense and in-depth investigation done by ourselves with the Hawks, police, and other safety and security institutions.”
He said the public had been actively assisting with the search.
“What is brilliant is that the public is assisting immensely, giving a lot of information and assistance.
“This is the solution in future that the public and all the authorities work together to identify, evaluate, do proper risk analysis and investigate, solve and prevent crime,” he said.
Due to the sensitivity of the search, Bolhuis said the ransom amount demanded by the suspects and sensitive details about the investigation could not be divulged.
“A ransom has been demanded but we [will] not divulge and neither will authorities.
“It’s sensitive information and no information pertaining to nitty-gritty or information of a manner where it can hamper the investigation or derail investigations will be shared presently.”
Bolhuis urged motorists to be extra cautious.
“There’s an extreme concern. It’s ironic that on the very same day we sent out a warning [for] single women drivers not to drive alone is the day she was taken.
“We are once again making the public aware, especially in East London, not to drive alone, make other arrangements, take people with and take extreme precautions.
“Make sure there are proper tracking devices, be very careful and be aware of your surroundings and positively paranoid.
“Make sure everything is arranged beforehand.
“Women are targets as well as any other single drivers including rich businessmen,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Specialised Security Services investigators.
The Hawks confirmed that a case of kidnapping was being investigated.
“The victim has not yet been found.
“The Hawks are investigating a kidnapping case and the police are working around the clock to rescue the victim unharmed.”
Hawks spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the spate of kidnappings in the province was alarming.
“The Hawks are very concerned about the mushrooming of kidnappings in the province, however, we are adamant that we will have a breakthrough as we did in cash-in-transit robberies,” Mhlakuvana said.
“The investigation [into Van der Merwe’s abduction] is still ongoing.
“The provincial head of the Hawks, Major-General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, is appealing to the public if anyone has information regarding the matter to immediately call the police.”
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