By Kaya 959 News
A 29-year-old woman who lied about being hijacked last week and caused a stir on social media, has been released on bail.
Simphiwe Manzini Mntimande, real name Phindile Kunene, was arrested and charged with Contravention of Section 9 of the Commissioners of Oath Act – making a false statement under oath.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng, Phindi Mjonondwane, said Kunene appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court following her arrest. The NPA said the charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice and fraud had been withdrawn
“The appearance relates to an incident in which she opened a criminal case at Protea Glen SAPS on Thursday, 20 May 2021, alleging that she had been hijacked. Kunene was released on R2000 bail,” Mjonondwane said.
READ: Gigi Lamayne recounts hijacking ordeal: ‘Take the car broer, just leave me intact!’
Facebook posts go viral
In a Facebook post, Kunene claimed that she was in the boot of her car.
“I just been hijacked, I’m in the boot of my car, they took my other phone thinking I have one… I’ll update u till I’m nomore.”
Her post was shared hundreds of times. Her friends and other social media users jumped to ask for assistance with tracking her down.
She later posted that the men had stopped the car and were arguing about who was going to have sex with her.
She took to social media, once more, to reveal that she was safe.
She also did not go into details about how she managed to get away from the men who abducted her.
“Hello South Africa, I won’t be long. I am Simphiwe Manzini, I just wanted to let you all know that I am safe. Physically I am okay, but emotionally I am not okay, I just want to let you know that I am safe and I can’t say where I am right now, but I am okay- Thank you for your prayers and everything you did to try and find where I am, thank you very much,” she wrote.
Some hours later, Kunene posted on social media that was fine. She further slammed police for not reacting quicker to her ‘calls for help’.
— Inno Matijane (@innomatijane) May 19, 2021
Probe discovers hijacking was fake
SAPS spokesperson in Gauteng, Captain Mavela Masondo, said senior detectives swiftly established discrepancies in the supposed victim’s statement.
Masondo said it emerged on further probe that the said hijacking and kidnapping report was false and this was subsequently corroborated by the woman’s confession that she was never kidnapped.
The NPA said the matter was postponed to 18 June for further investigations.



