Burning Kidnap/Murder Victim Identified
By Sonica Naude'-Steyn

A woman who was kdnapped and burnt alive near a bridge in Kokstad last Mondayhas been identified as Hardings Nedbank's manager and mother of three,37 year old Thembi Memela.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zandra de Beer Wiid,Memela and her one daughter was kidnapped in the early hours of last Monday from their home in Machi Village near Harding."Ms Memela was at home with her two daughters when three men entered the house,their faces were covered.They covered the 14-year-old daughter with blankets and took them to Ms Memela's carwhich was parked outside.Ms Memela was forced into the boot and the kidnappers drove off towards Kokstad.They then stoppednext to a river ,poured petrol over both mother and daughterand set them alight,"said De Beer Wiid.
The young girl managed to escape her attackers and  and allegedly jumped into the river where she waited for them to leave.Once the attackers had left in Memela's vehiclethe daughter made her way to the police station and reported the incidence.Police then rushed to the scene and discovered the renains of Memela.No arrests have yet been made and the vehicle has not yet been recovered however police continue to investigate the matter.
The 14 year old daughter is allegedly recovering in hospital.This was however the second cruel murder to shock the small community of Harding as in another incident,a 28 year old  taxi operator was gunned down by two men in Harding a week earlier.It is believed that the  taxi-violence related incident is being investigated by a provincial task team.