The victim was kidnapped on the school premises on Monday.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lucy Sekgotodi says the suspects demanded a ransom from the victim’s mother.
“It is alleged that on the day in question, four suspects, a female and three males, visited a high school in Kriel. On arrival at school, the female suspect entered the school while her accomplices remained in the vehicle. She called a learner and asked her to go call the victim and also to inform her that her mother was ill.
“The victim came running, and they told her that they were sent to fetch her. The victim entered the vehicle, and they drove away. They alleged that the mother of the victim is owing them. They started making some calls demanding R200,000 ransom.
“The complainant, who is a businesswoman, told them that she did not have the demanded ransom but only had R9,000. She was given three bank accounts to deposit the money. After the money was deposited, the suspects withdrew the funds.”
Sekgotodi said police managed to arrest four of the suspects in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg.
In the process, the victim was also rescued.
“Further investigations led the team to Kriel where another three suspects, a female and two males were also arrested and detained,” said Sekgotodi.
The seven suspects appeared in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Their case was postponed to Monday.
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