Cape Town - Over 7 000 signatures have been collected for a petition to oppose bail being granted to the alleged kidnappers of eight-year-old Abira Dekhta of Gatesville.
Seven suspects appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court today.
The online petition, called: “No bail for Abira Dekhta kidnappers”, has reached over 7 000 and was handed over to the State to oppose their bail.
This was confirmed by Fowzia Veerasamy, the chairperson of the Gatesville Neighbourhood Watch who began the petition after the suspects were arrested.
Veerasamy shared the number of signatures received on her social media platform.
Eric Ntabazalia of the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that three of the accused did not have legal representation, that of suspect numbers, two, three and four.
He said the court ordered that the accused names and photographs may not be publicised. New charges added include robbery with aggravating circumstances while accused two is charged with robbery, the charge of kidnapping was altered to trafficking in persons, attempted extortion and Contravention of the Cybercrime Act.
The case was postponed to December 13 for the bail application.
Abira, a Grade 2 learner at Rylands Primary School, had been sitting in the front seat of her school transport vehicle on November 4, when she was snatched by armed men.
Last month, Ntabazalila confirmed the seven suspects who are charged with Abira’s kidnapping and extortion had allegedly snatched the girl and drove off with her. On November 14, police received a tip-off that she was kept in a house in Town Two, Khayelitsha.
Ntabazalila said police observed three men who were patrolling outside the house.
He added that four other men were inside the house when police made the arrest and that there were two women also arrested but they were not brought to court, as they cannot be linked to the case.
He also indicated the State would be opposing bail.
During an interview with the Cape Argus, Abira’s father, Aslam Dekhta said he did not believe his family was targeted and that his daughter was well cared for.
He explained that the kidnappers allowed her to relieve herself and wash and they fed her KFC burgers and McDonald’s.
He further stated that the kidnappers had threatened her via phone calls, stating they were going to cut her finger and sell her somewhere.
He added the kidnapping was for ransom, but did not disclose how much the kidnappers demanded.
Dekhta said they did not pay a cent to the kidnappers because of the rescue by police.
Dekhta owns a cellphone shop in Gatesville.
Zinzi Hani of the Hawks, has also warned the public on spreading fake news and bogus messages about human trafficking and kidnapping of women and children.
“The Directorate in the Western Cape is deeply concerned about the continued peddling of fake news and cautions the public against the increasing promotion and distribution of such malicious untruths,” she said.
She added that it was related to an incident where fake news surfaced on various social media platforms alleging that a 32-year foreign national took a flight from Zimbabwe to OR Tambo International Airport on December 1 to meet his fiancé.
Hani said the woman had indicated that he was here to collect her and then they will travel back for their wedding ceremony.
She explained that information indicated that the male person had landed at Cape Town International Airport on a flight from OR Tambo International Airport.
Hani said in the end it was just a prank and that there was no evidence to support the claims.
“The information received indicated that he ordered a taxi to pick him up at the airport.
“He was allegedly taken by a different vehicle and not the taxi he requested.
“At approximately 8pm the fiancé is said to have received messages from his phone that stated 'WE GOT HIM' and demanded money for his safe return. No ransom amount was mentioned.
“A multi-disciplinary kidnapping task team was activated to locate the whereabouts of the victim.
“Preliminary investigation confirmed that there was no flight from ORTIA as alleged by the message.
“It also confirmed that no traveller with the name and surname as per information received has travelled from Zimbabwe to South Africa in the past three months. Video footage at Cape Town International Airport was viewed to verify the passenger as per the description given by the complainant.
“No person was found that matched such description on the CCTV system.
“The complainant received another message hours later indicating that the victim is on his way home and that his phone battery is flat.
“The complainant contacted his family, they indicated that he is safe and it was only a prank.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any crime or suspicious activities by contacting their nearest police station or calling the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111
“Information can also be conveyed to the police via My SAPS app that can be downloaded on any smartphone and the community is discouraged from reporting fake news to the police as such conduct causes serious harm to the resources,” Hani said.