Easter rescue: Police save Bloemfontein mother and children from ex-boyfriend

A Bloemfontein mother and her two young daughters were at the centre of an Easter miracle after they were protected by guardian angels -  the police and National Crime Assist (NCA), when they were rescued from the clutches of her ex-boyfriend who allegedly kidnapped them and threatened them with a sharp object.

According to Ben Almero, the head of NCA, the woman raised the alarm on Saturday, just before 10pm, that she and her two children were being held against their will by her alleged jealous ex-partner.

The woman and children had spent time with him over the Easter weekend, but he allegedly refused to allow them to return home.

Almero told the Cape Argus their non-profit organisation networked nationwide as far as the Western Cape and jumped to the woman’s aid.

The man allegedly kept them captive inside his home before forcing them into her vehicle, where he apparently kept a sharp weapon against her throat.

“He kept her hostage at first inside his home and he became aggressive according to the woman,” said Almero.

“She made contact with me as we are on a radio network for investigative purposes and cases.

“He forced her and the children into her vehicle and told her to drive.

“While doing so, he kept the sharp object against her neck and was apparently drinking alcohol.

“They were driving towards Vrystaat  (Free-State) and she had used the location on her cell phone.

“He threatened that he was going to take the children back to Bloemfontein and then he was going to sort her (harm her)."

Almero said quick-thinking and alert members of his team assisted the police during the arrest in Bothaville.

"Once he reached the town of Bothaville, he was arrested on the scene at a road block and the children were very traumatised,” he said. 

“We thank the station commander who was personally on the scene.

“We have arranged trauma counselling for her.

“He has apparently contacted her from the prison cells asking her to withdraw the case, which we have advised she must not do and said when he comes out, he will allegedly come for her.”

In a statement shared by the NCA, they said the fact that the woman had provided updates on her location, saved their lives.

“The victim constantly provided bits of information whenever possible that she could, under circumstances, both she and children were very traumatised.

"She had informed us just before Bothaville that he had a knife. 

“We also received a portion of the registration number that she could remember.

"That was enough to run a successful registration check. The vehicle's details were confirmed.

“When the vehicle passed the lookout outside Bothaville, which it followed at a safe distance, a member constantly passed the progress to the team, blocking the road with SAP at Toyota in Bothaville.

“At 11:33 pm, the entire operation was visual.

“At 11:34pm, the vehicle was successfully pulled over, and the wife and children unharmed, but very traumatised.

"At the time of arrest, the suspect was found with the knife in his hand.”

Cape Argus