Kidnapped Capetonian Anichka Penev Has Been Found

Anichka Penev was found on Friday night.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola says the Western Cape is the only province where kidnapping for ransom remains “problematic”.
Strategies used to combat this scourge in other parts of SA are being implemented, he told the province’s standing committee on community safety.

After more than a week since her disappearance, kidnapped Anichka Penev was reunited with her family on Friday night.

Western Cape police confirmed to Trendnotch on Saturday morning that Penev had been found, but would not provide any other information regarding her release.

“She has been safely reunited with her loved ones (and) the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping are still under investigation,” said spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi.

“Ms Penev who was kidnapped has been released this evening. The National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, with the assistance of Hostage Negotiator Team of WC SAPS, guided and assisted the family in negotiating a successful release from captivity. She is being taken for a medical check-up and is reunited with her family. Its been a gruesome week but she is finally safe,” said Loonat.

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has said the Western Cape is the only part of the country where kidnappings for ransom are “still problematic”.

“We are applying the same strategies used upcountry and implementing them here – integrated teams from national and provincial [police], as well as all other law enforcement agencies in the province,” he told the Western Cape government’s standing committee on community safety.