CRIME SCENE: Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni: A woman has been arrested along with an accomplice for allegedly staging her own kidnapping.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, following intensive investigations by Kwa-Thema detectives, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Crime Intelligence.

“Investigations revealed that the 37-year-old woman allegedly conspired with her accomplice to stage the kidnapping in an attempt to extort money from her cousin.

“Both suspects are expected to appear before court on charges of defeating the ends of justice, extortion and staging a crime scene,” said SAPS.

The police in Gauteng warned members of the public against making false reports or staging criminal incidents, as such actions divert critical police resources from genuine cases and undermine efforts to combat crime and protect communities.

Members of the public were further urged to use police services responsibly and provide truthful information when reporting criminal incidents.