“Ouma, there they are taking the child!”
These were the chilling words of a fellow primary school child who witnessed eight-year-old Abira Dekhta’s kidnapping yesterday.
A resident said her grandson had witnessed the kidnapping.
“It was just after 7am and my grandson was also waiting on his school transport when we heard a hooter,” she said. “Then the next moment I heard my grandson screaming ‘Ouma, there they are taking the child.’ He had been standing at the window when he saw this and then we all ran outside.
“We just saw the white bakkie which had a canopy leaving.
“The boy who had been inside the school van with the girl said he had ducked and hid himself under the seats. I took him up to my flat and I gave him sugar water and I called his mother.
“The girl’s school bag was still inside the van. It was two males who had gun pointed at the driver.”
By yesterday afternoon, the parents of Abira Dekhta had received no communication from the people who took their daughter.
Her family said they are now anxiously waiting on a phone call from the kidnappers for a ransom demand.
Abira is the daughter of cellphone businessman Aslam Dekhta and his wife, Salama Dekhta, of Rylands, who are originally from India.
She is one of five children.
The family have been living in South Africa for more than a decade.
The little girl’s uncle, who asked not to be identified and spoke on behalf of the family, told Weekend Argus they were waiting on communication from the kidnappers.
“The mother is very sad. We own a cellphone business in Gatesville, it is cellphone parts that we supply.
“The father is also very worried. There has been no contact, they are waiting on the call.”
The Rylands Primary School pupil had just left her home after 7am and had been sitting in the school transport vehicle with a fellow pupil, outside Amber Court in Gatesville, when they were confronted by two armed men.
Abira was seated in the front and the driver was next to her when she was pulled out of the vehicle.
The little boy who had witnessed the kidnapping, frantically hid behind the seats and escaped harm.
The kidnappers were apparently travelling in a stolen white double-cab Nissan bakkie, with cloned plates.
Witnesses told Weekend Argus that Abira’s school bag had been left in the vehicle, which has since been handed over to police for forensic examination.
Fowzia Veerasamy, chairperson of the Gatesville Neighbourhood Watch, said CCTV footage was now being reviewed for possible evidence and revealed the vehicle’s plates were cloned.
“Her teacher had come to the scene after the incident and confirmed it was one of their pupils.”
Hanif Loonat, an activist and crime fighter who works closely on kidnapping cases, said no communication had been received from the perpetrators.
“When I was notified, a task team was assigned to the case,” said Loonat. “We are very sad about what happened. The father is in the business of selling cellphone parts, particularly sim cards which are not rica’d, that is also a concern for cases such as these because it makes it very hard to trace the sources.”
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said police could not say much at this stage.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, this office will not divulge any information that might jeopardise the investigation.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they were deeply concerned by the kidnapping of one of their pupils and were praying for her safe return.
“The WCED is extremely concerned regarding the reports of an alleged kidnapping of a Grade 2 learner in Rylands this morning. SAPS would need to provide more details regarding the incident as it is not school related. Regardless, the WCED and the school community are extremely concerned for the child’s safety and well-being and pray for her safe return as soon as possible.”
In August, Shanawaaz Asghar, 5, was snatched by six unknown men while walking to school with a relative in Kensington and was returned home within 48 hours.
Another child kidnapping that made headlines was that of the Moti brothers when they were kidnapped while travelling to their private Curro Heuwelkruin school along the N37 in October 2021.
The boys were bundled into a vehicle by seven armed men which had blocked their car and shots were fired. The family denied that a R50 million was paid for ransom. Three weeks later, the family released a statement via their business Facebook page stating the brothers were safe at home and asked for their privacy to be respected while national police confirmed the kidnapping case was still under investigation.
Anyone with information is requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.