A Gauteng woman has been released on bail after stunning scenes unfolded last week when she sent out distress calls via her Facebook page claiming she was in the midst of an active hijacking and being held captive in the boot of her car, only for police to later arrest her for having made the whole thing up.
Last week,
The South African reported on a case where a woman, who used the profile name “Simphiwe Mazini Mtimande” on Facebook claimed to have been hijacked, sparking a massive social media reaction, that mobilised the public to launch the #FindSimphiwe hashtag in a bid to prevent the woman becoming yet another victim of SA’s gender-based violence (GBV) pandemic.
âFind Simphiweâ: Gauteng woman released on R2Â 000 bail after âfake hijackingâ
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Johannesburg - The 29-year-old Gauteng woman who was arrested for the fake hijacking and kidnapping saga which played out on social media has been released on R2Â 000 bail at the Protea Magistrateâs Court in Soweto.
The woman, whose real name is officially Phindile Kunene and not Simphiwe Manzini Mntimande, as she claimed on Facebook, spent the weekend behind bars after her arrest on Thursday.
Kunene has been charged with contravening the Oath of Commissions Act for allegedly submitting and deposing a false statement to the police when she reported at the Protea Glen police station that she had been kidnapped and hijacked.
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Phindile Kunene has been charged with making a false statement under oath.
Kunene was arrested after she opened a case at the Protea Glen police station in Soweto after posting about her apparent ordeal on social media.
Kunene was released on R2 000 bail and the case was postponed to 18 June for further investigation.
A Gauteng woman who was arrested last week for allegedly fabricating a hijacking and kidnapping made a brief appearance in the Protea Magistrate s Court on Monday.
Phindile Kunene has been charged with contravening Section 9 of the Commissioners of Oath Act for making a false statement under oath, said regional National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.
News in a Minute: Simphiwe Manzini ARRESTED for hoax claims [video]
Local woman who cried wolf with a made-up hijacking and kidnapping lands jailtime.
It seems a local woman has been crying wolf as claims emerge of a hoax curated by the trending #FindSimphiwe Manzini. The 28 year old reported to Protea Glen police station in Soweto earlier on Thursday. In her report she claims to have been hijacked and taken on a hell-ride.
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Woman accused of faking kidnapping, hijacking to appear in court today The 28-year-old lied about being hijacked on Twitter on Wednesday night and sent a multi-disciplinary search party set up by Gauteng police on wild goose chase. FILE: The police s Mavela Masondo said she faced charges of perjury, defeating the ends of justice and fraud. Picture: Saps
2 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG – A woman arrested for fabricating a hijacking and kidnapping case is expected to appear in the Protea Magistrates Court on Friday.
The 28-year-old lied about being hijacked on Twitter on Wednesday night and sent a multi-disciplinary search party set up by Gauteng police on a wild goose chase.