Update Video
GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - A homeless couple (36 and 46) accused of kidnapping their child, will appear in the George Magistrate's Court on Monday 3 October for their formal bail application. They face a charge of kidnapping after their son (13) disappeared from school on Monday 19 September.
The boy was removed from the care of his parents and placed in a place of safety last year.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie, swift response by specialist detectives of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) based in George, in collaboration with the Herold CPF, local neighbourhood and farm watches, as well as farmers in the Herold area, led to the parents' arrest.
"George FCS was informed of the child's disappearance and immediately started a search in collaboration with various role players," he said.
"The community members assisted with private drones after a tip-off that the trio were spotted near the old Montagu Pass on Wednesday 21 September."
The search was expanded on foot and traced by means of a drone with a thermal camera late that night in the mountains near Herold.
"The couple were arrested and the boy was returned to the place of safety where he was placed by the court on 30 December 2021," said Pojie.
. A screengrab of the thermal drone footage showing the parents in the mountain.
The identities of the couple are being withheld as a minor is involved.
Watch a video taken by Outeniqua Plaaswag with a thermal camera drone that shows where the couple was found in the mountains:
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