A seasoned Welkom police officer had to use his expertise as a hostage negotiator to rescue a three-year-old child from a life-threatening situation.
The crisis started on Sunday (09/01) when a security officer, the father of the child, threatened to throw his son from the Brandfort Bridge onto the N1 highway.
The incident followed an argument between the man and the child’s mother.
It is alleged that the child’s mother did not want to move to Bloemfontein with him.
“It was raining heavily when the father threatened to throw the small child from the bridge onto the N1 highway,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, police spokesperson.
The child’s 37-year-old mother alleged that her boyfriend assaulted her and forcefully took the child.
“She walked to the Winburg Police Station to report the incident. Then residents reported to the police that a man was threatening to throw a child off the Brandfort Bridge into oncoming traffic on the N1 highway,” says Thakeng.
The negotiator, Capt. Wassie Wasmuth, arrested the man. He will be facing charges of common assault, domestic violence, attempted murder and kidnapping.
Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane, Free State provincial commissioner, applauded the joint effort by Wasmuth, the emergency services and the Winburg police officers, who helped to divert traffic away from the bridge.
Although he was on leave, Wasmuth was eager to rescue the child and arrest the father.
“This is exceptional, patriotic and shows a true willingness to serve and protect,” says Motswenyane.
