Johannesburg - The five-year-old son of the Soweto nurse who was kidnapped while on her way to work has been asking whether his mother is dead.
The boy last saw her mother when she went to work on September 2. Her alleged kidnappers are demanding a R50 000 ransom and have given the family two months to pay it.
However, as Nonzwakazi Luthuli’s family tries to make sense of the situation, and tries to find the money, her confused son wants to know what has happened to his mother.
“Where is my mother? Is she dead?” the little boy has been asking the family.
Speaking to The Star on Tuesday morning, Luthuli’s younger sister Nopasika Ngqetho said the little boy’s father had since taken him to KwaZulu-Natal so he could get away from everything.
Luthuli was on her way to work at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital when she was kidnapped in Protea Glen, Soweto.
Police spokesman Constable Vincent Mashiteng said the 39-year-old was last seen boarding a taxi to go to work that evening.
Luthuli was able to send a message to her family.
She told them she had been kidnapped by people in a taxi and did not know where she was.
“It was the people at her workplace who reported her missing after receiving the message,” said Mashiteng.
He said the case was opened in Diepkloof before it was transferred to the Protea Glen police station.
“When her sister received the SMS, she went to the hospital to check with the colleagues and also gave a statement to the police,” he said.
Luthuli had only been living in Soweto for 20 days when she was kidnapped. Ngqetho said they used to live in Yeoville, but her sister suggested they move to Soweto as it was closer to work. When they lived in Yeoville, she spent a lot of money on transport as she used to take two taxis to work, whereas she only took one in Soweto.
“What happened is painful, we are new in Soweto. I really can’t explain how I feel.
“Her mother-in-law came all the way from KwaZulu-Natal and is here with me.”
Ngqetho said she was also threatened by one of the kidnappers. After receiving the SMS from her sister saying she had been kidnapped, Ngqetho gave the police the number.
The police called that number and the kidnappers then called Ngqetho, telling her she was the only one who had that number and asking her why she gave it to other people. They allegedly threatened to kill Luthuli if she went to the police.
Ngqetho said the kidnappers told them that her sister’s life would only be spared for two months. If the family found the money before then, they should deposit it in her sister’s account.
She said in addition to finding the ransom, there was also rent to be paid, and since her sister was the one who used to pay it, she was wondering where it would come from as it was due.
Mashiteng said the police were investigating all leads and urged people to come forward if they knew or saw anything.
“At this stage there have been no new developments - the investigation is continuing.”
The Star