A Cape Town woman reported missing after an alleged abduction at an Engen petrol station in Surrey Estate was found safe late on Monday, 26 October 2026, nearly 15 hours after she was last seen, her friends said.
Search driven by friends and social media
The 38-year-old returned home shortly before 23:00 on Monday, according to friends who led an aggressive ground and digital search after she went missing in the early hours. Police officers took her statement in the early hours of Tuesday morning, while her family asked for privacy, the reporting said.
Relatives, friends and other community members joined the efforts to find her, with appeals and descriptions circulating on social media after a close friend, Jade Pretorius, shared details at about 08:00 on Monday when the disappearance was discovered.
"Some guy drove off with her in his car while two friends were inside the petrol station, getting cigarettes. This guy drove off with her, and she hasn't been seen or heard from since,"
Pretorius provided the account of events and the physical description of the suspect to reporters while the search was still underway.
What happened at the Engen garage
The group had been out near The Shack in District Six. At about 04:00, after discovering their mobile phones were dead, the woman and two childhood friends accepted a lift from an unknown man who offered to take them to Woodstock. The driver then allegedly made a detour to Surrey Estate, where the vehicle stopped at an Engen garage.
According to Pretorius and the friends' account, the two friends left the vehicle to buy items and the driver then drove off with the 38-year-old still inside. Garage attendants later confirmed there was CCTV at the station, and staff described the vehicle as an "oldish" white Nissan Almera. Pretorius said attendants observed that the vehicle did not have a front licence plate and they were not able to see whether there was a rear plate.
The suspect was described by the two friends who were present as a very tall Coloured man, estimated to be between 39 and 41 years old, wearing a cap, with a beard and no moustache, and with visible pimples or a rash on the back of his head.
Timeline and next steps
Below is the timeline as reported by friends during the search:
- ~04:00 — Group accepts lift after phones are found dead following a night out near The Shack in District Six.
- Shortly after — Driver diverts to Surrey Estate.
- At the Engen garage — Two friends leave the vehicle to buy items; driver allegedly speeds off with the woman still inside.
- ~23:00 — The woman returns home and police take her statement in the early hours of Tuesday.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | "Oldish" white Nissan Almera; front licence plate not visible |
| Suspect description | Very tall Coloured man, aged about 39–41, cap, beard without moustache, pimples on back of head |
| CCTV | Engen staff confirmed footage exists; availability and images not detailed |
Friends said efforts were made to secure an official docket at the Surrey Estate police station to enable legal access to the garage’s surveillance footage. While the woman has been found and has given a statement, the reporting did not include confirmation from SAPS about charges or the status of any investigation.
Community reaction and safety questions
The case prompted a strong mobilisation in the local community and on social media, reflecting how rapidly informal networks can supplement official search efforts. It also raised fresh concerns about safety late at night, particularly when people are relying on lifts from strangers because of dead phones.
Those with information about the incident were urged to contact SAPS; Pretorius provided a number for tips during the search. Friends and family have asked for privacy while the matter is processed by police.
Anyone with information related to the events at the Engen garage in Surrey Estate on 26 October 2026 was asked to contact SAPS on +27 71 491 9090, according to the reporting.
