‘Our heroes’: Family praises Cape Town officers after five-year-old rescued from hijacking
What began as a terrifying hijacking ordeal for a Cape Town family ended with heartfelt praise for the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement officers who helped bring their daughter home safely.
After going through a horrendous hijacking ordeal, a Cape Town family has praised the group of officers who assisted them.
On May 21, shortly after 9am, five-year-old Fatiya Handino and her father were held at gunpoint on their arrival at home.
The hijackers forcibly removed her father from the vehicle and fled the scene with the terrified toddler still inside.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, said that around the time of the hijacking, Law Enforcement Officer Chimoney Abrahams and her colleagues were in the area when the father flagged them down and explained what had transpired.
“The officers immediately fled in the direction that the hijacked vehicle was last seen driving and contacted their colleagues for assistance,” Smith said.
It is understood that the suspect left the child on the side of the road as he fled into a nearby bush in an attempt to escape.
“Officer Abrahams spotted the suspect trying to remove his clothes and apprehended the 32-year-old male. He was subsequently handed over to SAPS,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, the community, along with other officers, managed to locate little Fatiya and return her safely to her family.
Fatiya and her family visited Smith’s office, where they lauded the Law Enforcement team for a sterling job.
The family, along with Law Enforcement Management, handed each officer a certificate of appreciation.
“It was heartwarming to witness Fatiya’s family expressing their gratitude to the officers. Their swift action in apprehending the suspect and safeguarding this little girl is commendable and a testament to the ethos we try to promote in the Safety and Security Directorate,” Smith said.
IOL
