KwaZulu-Natal police are searching for additional suspects following the kidnapping of a woman and seven of her relatives from their home in Sundumbili. The victims were targeted after the woman recently received a payout from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
Family Abducted in Early Morning Raid
A gang stormed a family homestead in Chappies Section, Mandeville, in the early hours of Friday. According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, all eight victims were present at the homestead when the attack occurred.
The kidnappers drove the group more than 104km south from the iLembe district, a journey lasting over an hour. The seven relatives were eventually abandoned at KwaDabeka, a township located just outside Pinetown.
The woman, who is in her mid to late 30s, was not released with her family. She was transported further to Phoenix, approximately 99km from where she was first abducted and roughly 15km from where her relatives had been left.
Police Operation and Recovery
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Tracking Team was activated to locate the victims. Officers successfully located one of the two vehicles used in the crime and arrested three suspects.
Following the arrests, investigations led police to Phoenix, where the woman was found alive, and unharmed. While the suspects attempted several bank transactions without success, police report they managed to make purchases totaling R30,000.
A Growing National Pattern
This incident is part of a wider trend of criminals targeting RAF beneficiaries across South Africa. In February 2025, a man and two teenage girls were kidnapped from the same Sundumbili area for a similar payout before being rescued in Durban.
Other recent cases include the April 12, 2026, abduction of a Libode man by four men—one of whom wore a police uniform—who was forced to authenticate bank transfers in a forest near Mthatha. In that case, the Hawks froze over R800,000, and 40-year-old Lubabalo Gift Mofokeng was arrested.
The severity of these crimes has led to significant legal penalties. In August 2025, the NPA announced that 31-year-old Present Sibuyi was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Mbombela for murder, kidnapping, and robbery linked to an RAF payout in Bushbuckridge.
Safety Warnings and Future Outlook
Colonel Netshiunda has urged RAF beneficiaries to remain discreet, appealing to them not to brag about their money or disclose their payouts to others.
Police may continue to expand their search for the remaining suspects involved in the Sundumbili raid. Further investigations could likely reveal how the criminals obtained specific information regarding the woman’s payout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was kidnapped in the Sundumbili incident?
A woman in her mid to late 30s and seven of her relatives were kidnapped from their home.
What was the motive behind the kidnapping?
The criminals reportedly targeted the victims because the woman had recently received a Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout.
What advice have the police given to RAF beneficiaries?
Police are appealing to beneficiaries not to disclose their payouts or brag about the money they have received.
How can communities better protect vulnerable individuals who receive large financial settlements?