By Monday morning there was still no news of Leigh Matthews who was kidnapped on Friday, the day before her 21st birthday, police said.
”We heard nothing over the night,” said police Superintendent Chris Wilken.
Matthews’ parents, Rob and Sharon, have appealed to her kidnappers to release her safely.
They were contacted on Friday afternoon after Leigh disappeared from outside Bond University in Sandton, where she studied.
Matthews said they fulfilled all the ransom demands, including handing over a certain amount of money, but their child was still not returned to them.
By Saturday, they decided to involve the police, although this went against the terms of the agreement.
”It depends on the community to supply the police with information,” said Wilken on Sunday.
”Perhaps she isn’t in Johannesburg anymore. People can look out for anything unusual and let the police know.”
Appealing for help on Saturday, her father said: ”As a parent when the time runs out you cannot sit still and wait anymore. Please, please give her back.”
She was last seen dressed in blue jeans, a brown-reddish polo-neck top and a black leather jacket.
Matthews said he talked to the kidnapper throughout Friday afternoon and even once had a chance to speak to his daughter.
”She told me to follow the instructions not to involve the police and that she was not hurt.”
Matthews, the managing director of an information technology company, and his family live in Fourways. He said he has no idea why his child was targeted.
”Maybe she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I don’t know.”
According to Matthews, the kidnapper initially said that he was Libyan but during the two conversations they had, he concluded that his accent was actually South African. — Sapa
Dramatic Jo’burg kidnapping case