Cape Town - A tip-off to the police led to the safe return of kidnapped Rylands girl Abirah Dekhta.
This was revealed in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where seven men appeared on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
State prosecutor Darren Rudolph said that while the driver of a pupil transport vehicle carrying Dekhta was waiting for another learner to board, two vehicles pulled up behind it at around 7am on November 4.
Five men exited the second vehicle, removed the 8-year-old girl from the transport vehicle and placed her in a white Nissan double-cab bakkie.
A well-known Cape clergyman confirmed he had received a phone call from someone who had said they had information on her whereabouts.
The clergyman said he vaguely remembered the conversation, as he received hundreds of calls daily.
He said he had referred the caller to the police and another organisation that could assist in the matter. The caller did not disclose any information to the clergyman at the time.
Rudolph said police received information around 5pm on Monday, 14 November, that the victim was being held at a residence in Joe Nzinga Gqabi Street, Town Two, Khayelitsha.
When they arrived at the scene, police found accused one to four inside, while accused five to seven were guarding the shack Abirah was being held in. The groups would alternate positions.
Five heavily armed anti-gang unit police descended on the dock to collect the accused to appear in front of Judge Goolam Bawa.
Bawa said the accused could not be named and prohibited the media from taking pictures or videos of them during the first appearance, as they did not have their attorneys present.
The State detailed the events of November 4 and 14 while a translator relayed the information to the accused in isiXhosa.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said initially seven men and two women had been apprehended. However, the two women were not charged, as there was nothing linking them to the crime.
Ntabazalila said the accused were from Khayelitsha and Strand.
The case has been postponed to December 7 for a formal bail application. Ntabazalila said the State would be opposing bail. There was no mention of charges related to firearms.
Ahead of the appearance, Rylands community members had gathered outside the court with the placards used just a few days ago in marches and protests calling for the safe return of Dekhta.
Now, instead of “Bring Back Abirah”, the vocal group chanted “Justice for Abirah!” and “We want justice!”.
Dekhta’s parents were absent from the proceedings, but two of Dekhta’s uncles sat in court.
One uncle said Dekhta was doing fine, but she had appeared frightened when she saw people of the same race as her kidnappers. This was evident when the family had taken Dekhta out for supper in the week.
Family friend Imdaad Harris said Dekhta was receiving trauma counselling and would undergo more sessions.
Harris said no remorse had been shown by the accused. He said all he wanted was for investigators to find the “masterminds” behind the kidnapping, as it was clear they were not in the dock with the accused.