Law enforcement is currently investigating a case whereby a 33-year-old man has been left deeply traumatised after he was kidnapped and tortured by a group of unknown men in Osizweni, Newcastle.
According to police reports, as confirmed by Amajuba District SAPS Spokesperson, Constable Nonjubula Langa, the incident recently unfolded just before 5 pm while the victim was walking along Eastborne near Nodlelo Road.
While he was walking, a silver sedan motor vehicle pulled up alongside him and three men exited the vehicle, accused him of stealing livestock, before forcibly pushing him into the car.
Once inside the vehicle, entirely at the suspects’ mercy, the victim was driven to Drycut Farm, a rural area on the outskirts of Osizweni, where the assailants assaulted him with knobkerries. After beating him into submission, the suspects escalated their brutality by tying a rope around his neck and pouring petrol over him, intensifying his fear for his life.
While threatening to kill the man—who maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal—the suspects declared their intention to end his life. In a chilling act of intimidation, one of the men produced a firearm and fired it into the ground next to the terrified victim, a tactic often associated with psychological torture in violent crimes.
After terrorising him, the perpetrators forced the victim back into the vehicle, drove to a cemetery in Osizweni, and abandoned him, leaving him to fend for himself and seek help.
Discussing the matter further, Constable Langa explained that the victim was questioned, and it was found that the 33-year-old man had been employed as a shepherd to herd the cattle, and that 16 of the cattle had gone missing in June 2025. Adding to this, the suspects had claimed that they were taking the kidnapped man to his employer, during the attack.
However, Constable Langa explained that after he was interrogated, the employer not only denied knowing about the incident, but no evidence was found to link him to the case.
As the Osizweni SAPS continues its investigation, the SAPS encourages anyone with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or visit www.saps.gov.za for anonymous reporting options.
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One Response
Good Day. Newcastle Law enforcement, should be careful in the manner they are treating arresting ” outsiders ” with improper procedure within ambit of the Laws of the country.