A 38-year-old Cape Town woman has been reunited with her family after disappearing for nearly 15 hours when an unknown man allegedly drove away with her inside his vehicle.
Fatima Arendse returned home safely shortly before 11pm on Monday, 26 October 2026, following an extensive search involving relatives, friends and community members.
According to Cape Argus, police took a statement from Arendse during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Her family has since requested privacy.
What Happened Before Her Disappearance?
The incident reportedly began at around 4am on Monday after Arendse and two childhood friends spent the night out near The Shack.
With their mobile phones out of battery, the group accepted a lift from an unknown man who offered to drive them to Woodstock.
However, the driver reportedly took a different route, eventually stopping at an Engen petrol station in Surrey Estate.
While Arendse remained inside the vehicle, her two friends entered the petrol station to purchase items.
The man allegedly drove away before they returned, leaving Arendse inside the vehicle.
Friends and Family Launch Search
Arendse’s close friend, Jade Pretorius, reportedly learnt about her disappearance at approximately 8am on Monday.
Pretorius immediately began organising a search, sharing appeals for information across social media and encouraging community members to assist.
According to Cape Argus, witnesses described the vehicle as an older white Nissan Almera.
Petrol station attendants reportedly indicated that the vehicle had no front number plate, while its rear registration could not be confirmed.
As the search continued, Pretorius, Arendse’s father and her boyfriend attempted to work with Manenberg police to open an official case and obtain access to CCTV footage that could assist in identifying the driver.
Arendse Returns Home Safely
After hours of uncertainty, Arendse returned home at approximately 10:58pm on Monday.
Her family confirmed that she was safe, bringing an end to the widespread search.
Police subsequently obtained her statement, although further details surrounding her disappearance and the circumstances of her return were not immediately available.
It remains unclear whether the driver has been identified or whether any arrests have been made.
The family has requested privacy following Arendse’s return.
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