Thulisile Mapongwana
The bail application for the three suspects linked to the kidnapping of nine-year-old Emaan Fatima Ghumman has been postponed to March 4th.
The East London Magistrate’s Court delayed proceedings once again on Thursday—this time to secure an interpreter for the foreign national suspects.
This marks the second postponement after the case was previously delayed to allow one of the accused to consult with an attorney.
Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, said the suspects, aged between 20 and 67, will remain in custody until their formal bail application on March 4-5.
The men were arrested after Ghumman was abducted while walking home from Dreamland Primary School earlier this month.
The school is owned by her father, Naeem, who alluded to paying a ransom for his daughter’s release.
Ghumman was dropped off outside Inyibiba Police Station in Mdantsane nine days after her abduction.
The Hawks have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and the concealing of the suspects' identities is crucial as more arrests may follow.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Flats community remains engaged, with a march planned for 1 March to the local police station in solidarity with the victim’s family.
Community members will also hand over a petition expressing concern over the high level of break-ins and crime in the area.
