A 27-year-old woman escaped an alleged kidnapping attempt in Thembisa after Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers on patrol responded to her screams for help, with four suspects still at large following a shootout with police.

The incident happened at about 8 pm on Wednesday on Link Road, between Esselen and Liliba near the dam, according to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department.

EMPD officers were conducting routine patrols when they heard a woman screaming.

The woman ran towards the police vehicle and climbed inside for safety. She told officers that four men travelling in a white Toyota Avanza had allegedly attempted to kidnap her.

The officers immediately pursued the vehicle.

According to EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot when officers gave chase.

Two of the men ran into Emfihlweni Cemetery, while the other two, including the driver, fled towards the Esselen Park area.

The situation escalated when the suspects allegedly opened fire at the officers during the pursuit.

No officers were injured.

The suspects, however, managed to evade arrest in the darkness around the cemetery.

A case of attempted kidnapping and attempted murder is expected to be opened at Thembisa SAPS.

EMPD said it would work with SAPS to identify and trace the four suspects and locate the white Toyota Avanza allegedly used in the incident.

“The EMPD will not rest until those responsible are brought to book,” Thepa said.

The incident comes amid growing concern over the safety of women in Ekurhuleni, where a series of killings has left communities fearful and reignited national concern about gender-based violence and femicide.

At least 12 women’s bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni since July, with the cases investigated by a specialised police team. By early October, Gauteng police said three of the 12 cases had been resolved, while three others had persons of interest. Three of the bodies remained unidentified.

The deaths have prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to describe violence against women as a national shame and announce a series of measures to strengthen the response to gender-based violence and femicide.

When Ramaphosa addressed the nation on September 29, the discovery of another woman’s body in Springs had brought the number of women’s bodies found in Ekurhuleni since July to 11.

A 12th body was subsequently reported, intensifying fears among residents and women’s rights activists.

The cases have also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding unresolved murders and missing women, with families continuing to demand answers and justice.

For women living in and travelling through Ekurhuleni, the latest alleged kidnapping attempt has added another layer of fear to an already tense environment.

The suspects in Wednesday night’s incident remain at large, and police have appealed to anyone who may have information about the four men or the white Toyota Avanza to come forward.

EMPD has also urged residents, particularly women, to remain vigilant and avoid walking alone at night through isolated areas, open veld and poorly lit streets.

Residents have been urged to report suspicious people and vehicles to law enforcement immediately.

The department said the alleged attack should serve as another warning about the risks women face, particularly in isolated areas after dark.

While investigators have yet to establish any connection between the alleged Thembisa kidnapping attempt and the separate murders of women across Ekurhuleni, the incidents have fuelled an already deep sense of insecurity among women in the region.

For families whose loved ones have been killed or remain without justice, the fear is not simply about another incident making headlines.

It is about whether perpetrators will ultimately be identified, arrested and held accountable.

And as the latest alleged kidnapping attempt shows, women in Ekurhuleni continue to face the threat of violence while walking through communities that should be safe.