Minister of Police commends the SAPS following successful rescue of Pastor Phillip Mashudu and his wife

The Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu commends the South African Police Service (SAPS), following the successful rescue of Pastor Phillip Mashudu (55) and his wife, Mrs Elsie Matlou Mashudu (54). The couple went missing on Friday, 23 August 2024, while en route from Bethlehem to Parys, after being stopped by suspects impersonating police officers in full uniform. It is as a result of the quick response and relentless determination of a multi-disciplinary team, that credible leads were pursued around the clock, ultimately leading to the location of the victims on the evening of Monday, 27 August 2024. Dr. Azwihangwi Maumela, speaking on behalf of the Mashudu family, has expressed the family's profound gratitude for the exceptional service provided by our police officers. In commending the SAPS, Minister Mchunu stated the following: "I am pleased to report that the victims were found in a physically stable condition. This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges we face in our ongoing efforts to main tain public safety however, it is also a testament to what can be achieved when our police service acts with resolve, diligence, and integrity. We extend our gratitude to all the teams involved; your unwavering commitment and professionalism have not only brought about a successful resolution to this case but have also restored a sense of security and faith within our community. The safety and security of every citizen remain our top priority. We will look into the allegations of possible involvement of police officers and where there are police officers implicated, we will take action. Corruption within the SAPS will not be tolerated and we urge anyone with information to come forward and assist the police." The four suspects, aged between 31 and 41 years of age, have been apprehended and will appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 29 August 2024 on charges of hijacking and kidnapping. For more information, contact Ministry Spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi on 076 523 0085 or Brigadier Athlen da Mathe, Spokesperson for the SAPS on 082 040 8808. For media releases, speeches and news visit the SAPS portal at: www.saps.gov.za X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAPoliceService Instagram: https://instagram.com/sapoliceservice_za/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAPoliceService Website: www.saps.gov.za Source: South African Police Service