CAPE TOWN - A Ukrainian woman kidnapped in Cape Town and released nine days later was fed bread and water by her abductors.
While 35-year-old Anna Penev was not physically harmed, a close friend says she is severely traumatised by her ordeal.
Penev, who was kept blindfolded, was released on Friday night near Khayelitsha after a ransom was paid.
Penev’s friend says while her family and friends were always anxious, they never lost hope.
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He says it will take a long time to recover but they’re relieved she wasn’t assaulted.
Police say they’ve investigated 33 kidnappings in the Western Cape in the last seven months alone.
This number is likely higher as many more abductions go unreported out of fear.
* eNCA's Ayesha Ismail reports.