A South African woman accused of staging her own kidnapping was spotted on video gambling in a casino, according to authorities. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Fake kidnapping in South Africa

A South African woman and her lover have been charged over an alleged staged kidnapping.

The woman was reported missing by her husband after sending voice messages claiming she had been abducted. Instead, she was later seen gambling in a casino in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

her husband received two voice messages claiming the woman had been hijacked

The woman and her lover allegedly staged the kidnapping to cover up an affair, after her husband received two voice messages claiming the woman had been hijacked near Riet River in Verulam.

The husband then contacted security firm Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), causing a regional manhunt as a missing person case was reported to police authorities and other security firms.

Officers uncover hoax

“Several callers informed officers the female was allegedly involved in an extra marital affair and had faked the hijacking to be with her lover,” said a statement from RUSA. “Officers were also forwarded an image of a woman requesting legal assistance in obtaining a divorce.”

“Further information received was the woman was seen driving alone in her car hours after the hijacking was reported.”

The woman was then seen on video gambling at a casino, before ending up at overnight accommodation in Newcastle, where authorities finally tracked her down.

She claimed to authorities that the supposed kidnappers had dumped her at the side of the road

The woman and her alleged lover had planned to dispose of their car, but upon realizing the police were closing in, handed herself in. She claimed to authorities that the supposed kidnappers had dumped her at the side of the road.

Duo to appear in court

“The woman claimed to have been hijacked in Verulam and was locked in the boot of her car where she miraculously managed to send two voice-note messages to her husband,” said KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda.

“Intelligence uncovered that prior to her imaginary hijacking and kidnapping, the woman had spent some time at a casino.”

Netshiunda announced that the pair would be charged with defeating the course of justice. The two are expected to appear in the Verulam magistrate’s court today.