Gift of the Givers staff traumatised after Khayelitsha kidnapping

THREE Gift of the Givers staff members were left traumatised after they were kidnapped at gunpoint in a 40-minute hijacking ordeal in Khayelitsha.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

The team, a male driver and two female colleagues, were driving through the area on Friday when seven armed men cut them off, forced them out of their vehicle, and bundled them into a blue Toyota Yaris.

Two other suspects sped off in the organisation's branded van.

The hijackers later abandoned the staff in the middle of an informal settlement.

Project coordinator Ali Sablay said: “Members of our team were hijacked in Lingelethu West last night while on duty.

“At a stop street, a blue Toyota Yaris suddenly cut in front of their vehicle. Within seconds, five to seven armed men emerged from nearby structures and forcefully removed our team at gunpoint. The team was bundled into the Yaris, while two of the suspects sped off in the sponsored Gift of the Givers van.