The lady said she was allegedly kept in a car boot by alleged police men
A Ghanaian woman evacuated from South Africa has narrated how she was allegedly arrested by men posing as police officers and detained until a ransom was paid for her release.
The woman, who was among Ghanaians recently repatriated to Ghana, said the incident happened a week before the evacuation exercise.
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According to her, she and a colleague were at work when the men arrived and claimed they were being arrested because their passports did not have residence permits.
“I was taken by some men claiming to be police officers last Sunday before we were evacuated. I was at work with a colleague, and they came to arrest us because our passports were not stamped with permits. When they operate, they don't act like policemen but rather disguise themselves,” she alleged.
She explained that some of the men initially pretended to be customers at the salon where she worked before revealing themselves.
“Some of them arrived at the saloon acting like they were coming to have a hairdo. When I tried to meet them, I saw policemen numbering about 27 who stormed the saloon,” she recounted.
The returnee alleged that she and others were forced into the boot of a vehicle and held while money was demanded from their employers.
“They placed us in the car boot. They keep you in the boot and demand ransom from your employer before you are released. When your employer fails to meet their demands, they take you to their cells and keep you there,” she claimed.
She said they regained their freedom only after payment was made.
“We were released after payment was made to them. That was when I started feeling unsafe in South Africa. I would advise anyone who wants to travel to the country not to visit, since it's unsafe,” she stated.
The woman also spoke about growing hostility towards foreign nationals in some parts of South Africa.
“They have announced a June 30 ultimatum declared by anti-immigration groups demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa. And they are very serious about their demands,” she said.
She further alleged that some businesses have stopped serving Ghanaian nationals.
“They do not sell food to Ghanaian foreigners any longer. When you make such attempts to purchase an item, they will drive you away,” she added.
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Expressing gratitude to the Ghanaian government for facilitating her return home, she said she had lost hope of ever coming back to Ghana.
“I am grateful to the government for bringing us back to Ghana, because I had no hope of returning to Ghana,” she said.
LIVE | An evacuee shares her ordeal in South Africa, describing her experience as a stark contrast to the expectations she had before travelling. pic.twitter.com/IcJtGMVYti
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