Fatima Arendse found safe after alleged abduction in Cape Town

After nearly 15 hours of uncertainty, Cape Town woman Fatima Arendse is back home with her family following a frightening incident in which a man allegedly drove away with her still inside his vehicle at a petrol station in Surrey Estate.

The 38-year-old returned home shortly before 23:00 on Monday, 26 October, bringing an end to an anxious search that had drawn in friends, relatives and members of the public.

Police took a statement from Arendse during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Her family has asked for privacy following the ordeal.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance, however, remain serious. Arendse was reportedly inside an unfamiliar vehicle when its driver allegedly left the Engen petrol station with her, while two friends were inside the shop, as reported by the Cape Times.

What happened at the Surrey Estate petrol station?

According to details shared by her close friend Jade Pretorius, the incident began after Arendse and two childhood friends had spent the night out near The Shack in Cape Town.

At around 04:00 on Monday, the group discovered that their mobile phones had run out of battery. They accepted a lift from an unknown man who offered to take them to Woodstock.

Instead, the driver took a different route, and the group ended up in Surrey Estate.

When they stopped at an Engen petrol station, Arendse stayed in the car while her friends went inside to buy cigarettes and other items. Before they could return, the driver allegedly left with her still in the vehicle.

The incident prompted an urgent appeal for information, with Pretorius helping to circulate details online as concern for Arendse grew.

As news of Arendse’s disappearance spread, friends, relatives and community members joined the effort to find her.

Pretorius led a social media campaign, sharing information about the circumstances of the disappearance and asking people to help locate her.

The search also raised questions about access to possible evidence. According to the earlier account, petrol station staff confirmed that CCTV footage existed, although it was not clear whether the driver’s face could be seen in the recordings.

Pretorius had been trying to ensure that the incident was formally registered with police so that the footage could be obtained through the appropriate process.

Arendse’s return home has brought relief to those who spent the day looking for her. However, her safe return does not, by itself, establish what happened during the time she was missing.

Vehicle and driver details emerged during search

During the search, information provided by Arendse’s friends and petrol station staff helped build a description of the man and the vehicle involved.

The driver was described as a very tall Coloured man, estimated to be between 39 and 41 years old. He was reportedly wearing a cap and had a beard without a moustache, as well as visible pimples on the back of his head.

The vehicle was described as an older white Nissan Almera. According to the information shared by Pretorius, petrol station staff said the car did not appear to have a front number plate, while they could not confirm whether a plate was fitted at the rear.

These details formed part of the public appeal while Arendse’s whereabouts were unknown.

Arendse’s return home marks a welcome development after a day of uncertainty for her loved ones.

The incident was initially reported as an alleged abduction, based on the account given by her friends. Any further details about what happened while she was missing, and whether anyone will face charges, would need to be established through the police investigation.

For now, her family has requested privacy as she returns home after the ordeal.

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**Picture: **Missing Person SA / Facebook

The post Fatima Arendse found safe after alleged abduction in Cape Town appeared first on Cape Town ETC.