A four-month-old girl was rescued and reunited with her family within hours of being kidnapped outside her home in Dobsonville, Soweto. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the incident occurred on Tuesday just after 17:00 when the kidnappers fled with the infant and immediately started demanding a ransom payment from the family. The matter was reported to the SAPS wherein all relevant specialised units were mobilised to find the infant safe and unharmed as well as apprehend those behind the kidnapping. Members traced the baby to the Roodepoort mining area just after 23:00 on the same night said Mathe.

Mathe said the kidnappers demanded a ransom amount of R500 000 but later reduced it to R10 000.  "Ransom was not paid. She added that when police had approached the area, the kidnappers had fled into the bushes. A manhunt had since been launched to find and apprehend them. The infant was rescued and taken to a nearby health facility for medical examination. Once cleared, the infant was safely reunited with her parents, Mathe said. Mathe said a manhunt was launched for the group of kidnappers.