A young woman from Gauteng, Onkabetse, has captured national attention after bravely sharing her terrifying kidnapping ordeal at Carnival Mall. Her story, posted on TikTok, has gone viral—sparking outrage over the lack of response from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The incident occurred on Friday, 13 June 2025. Onkabetse had just finished work and was dropped off at Carnival Mall. As she attempted to cross the road, a man suddenly approached and pressed a gun to her head, warning her to keep quiet or he would shoot. He forced her to a secluded area where the nightmare began.
The assailant demanded all the cash she had, and Onkabetse handed over R1,800. Unsatisfied, he took her phone and forced her to activate a hotspot, giving him internet access. He then made her empty her bank account, robbing her of an additional R5,000 in savings.
But the horror didn’t end there. The attacker contacted others, referring to Onkabetse as “the target,” and made it clear this was a coordinated crime. He attempted to sexually assault her, but her thick clothing made it difficult to carry out the attack.
In a desperate act of survival, Onkabetse grabbed a nearby brick and struck her attacker in the head, rendering him unconscious. Seizing the moment, she ran—bloodied, disoriented, and terrified—until she reached a freeway, where taxi commuters found her and helped contact her family.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMS9XQBpf/
Despite the traumatic experience and visible injuries, Onkabetse says the police have yet to investigate her case. Speaking from her hospital bed, she expressed frustration and disappointment with the system meant to protect her. “Prayer saved me. I fought for my life. SAPS failed me,” she said in her TikTok video.
Her harrowing account has drawn widespread reactions from South Africans on social media. Many echoed her frustration with law enforcement and shared similar experiences of being dismissed or ignored by SAPS during emergencies.
One user, @Vuka_MaAfrika, called for a national shutdown to protest the country’s failure to protect women and children, saying, “The justice system keeps failing us. We can’t keep being peaceful while our lives are on the line.” Another, @Antonella🦋, recounted her own failed attempt to get help from SAPS, recalling how an officer hung up on her during a crisis.
Messages of support flooded in, with @DiamantéRamano💎 writing, “Thank God you made it out alive. I’m so sorry.” Others, like @GeminiGirl, criticized the lack of dedication among some officers: “Many police just want a paycheck. They forget their real job is to protect the community.”
Onkabetse’s story is one of resilience, but it also highlights a systemic issue that leaves many South Africans vulnerable. As the nation processes her experience, the demand for police accountability and justice grows louder.
This case remains a stark reminder of how much still needs to be done to ensure the safety and dignity of women in South Africa.