Missing Capetonian Shireen Essop Found Safe But Needs Time to Recover

Missing woman Shireen Essop has been found, and is thankfully alive and safe, according to her brother Hamied. He said she was found after midnight last night (apparently at around 2am on Friday 10 June) by the Klipfontein Neighbourhood Watch at the Klipfontein Mission Station in Cape Town, South Africa.

Thirty-two year old Shireen went missing on 23 May when she was allegedly kidnapped. She was last seen driving a white Toyota vehicle along Weltevreden Road.

According to her family, she managed to call her mom and brothers on the day she went missing, but despite giving chase immediately, only her abandoned car was found at the time.

This morning her relieved family issued a statement about her safe return.

City of Cape Town’s Advocate Shameemah Dollie Salie has published a post today addressing many South Africans’ concerns over whether Shireen had been kidnapped or not. (As one Cape Town resident said: “I don’t need to know the personal reasons if she ran away from home, but I would like to know – for my own safety – whether she was kidnapped.”)

Advocate Salie said: “A gentle reminder to those rightfully asking for more info on Shireen Essop rescue whether due to fear, concerns of their own or due to having been part of our nation who have prayed and made duah (prayer for help) for her rescue and the rescue of so many others.

“The message from family detailed below makes it clear that they asking for duah for her full recovery. That alone explains the trauma attached to this matter.

“According to info circulating she was found by Klipfontein Mission Station neighborhood watch at 2am. See image below. I am attaching the image after rescue, for all to understand that we have to provide the family and especially sister Shireen some recovery time.

“Normally this pic I would not post but this is hopefully to help the community comprehend in a time of fear, (the) amount of emotion attached to these very scary times for us all.

“However further… Please understand this matter is under police investigation and it would be good for SAPS to start sharing an update in this matter that does not impact on investigation or potentially place a further threat on the family.

“As an individual who has experience in investigation of and presenting criminal matters. This is one of the matters I would appreciate community to be patient. Hopefully during course of day more info will be forthcoming. In meantime let’s make duah as requested by family”

The family’s statement says: “السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ Glory be to Allah, the nourisher and sustainer of all the worlds. Only through his ragmah is any and all things possible. It gives me great pleasure in informing you, that Shireen has finally been reunited with her family.

”Words alone cannot express our heartfelt appreciation for being in your thoughts and in your hearts during these dark hours. Your support and continuous prayers have given us the strength to remain positive and hopeful that the Almighty will guide her safely back home to us.
Only Allah knows how much it means to us and may HE continue to protect and bless all our families.

”We ask that you continue to make duah for her for a full recovery. Ameen Jazakallah”

As Community member, Abdul Hamid Gamiet Abrahams, wrote on Facebook: “Shireen Essop has been found, please let’s respect the families privacy for now. Especially if they choose not to disclose details of her whereabouts.”

Although the kidnapping of Shireen Essop has not yet been confirmed, kidnappings have been on the rise in South Africa. Last week’s episode of Carte Blanche focused on the terrifying ordeal of businessmen kidnapped for large sums of ransom in the Eastern Cape. The current affairs show said: “South Africa used to hardly experience any kidnappings. What is driving the surge in professional kidnappings, and can anyone stop it?” Watch the show overseas on Showmax International | Watch in SA on DStv Now

UPDATE:

#ShireenEssop Klipfontein NHW's Dean Esau says they were on the search for another missing woman, when they came across Essop. Esau says Essop asked cops for help, but they apparently ignored her. @eNCA pic.twitter.com/qW2kk3coJP

— Monique Mortlock-Malgas (@MoniqueMortlock) June 11, 2022

UPDATE (12 June)

According to IOL, Shireen’s family paid a ransom fee to secure her release. It’s alleged that the kidnappers had snatched the wrong person. Shireen told the Good Samaritans who found her (see video above) that she had been held hostage in Khayelitsha. The Klipfontein Mission Station Neighbourhood Watch found her, distraught, after she’d been dumped on the side of the road by her alleged kidnappers.

One of the neighbourhood watch members said police “didn’t want to help her, they ignored her, then we went to her and that’s when one of our members said she is the missing Shireen, the lady whose picture everyone was sharing. I went to her and asked her and she said ‘yes’. She started to cry and I held her against my chest, she told me they hurt her really bad. I told her not to worry, she’s safe now.”

Another member of Neighbourhood Watch, Dean Esau (pictured above) said: “(She said) they (the alleged kidnappers) gave her money and told her to walk towards the BP garage, they told her that they were letting her go because she wasn’t the intended person.
She was placed in a car and dropped off on Govan Mbeki Road.”