Post by @justadvocacy1

Fatima Arendse, 38, of Cape Town, has broken her silence after returning home safely on Monday night following an alleged abduction in Surrey Estate. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, she addressed the intense social media speculation and unverified reporting that followed her disappearance. “Social media is forcing me to tell people what happened,” Arendse wrote. “And the truth is this is my life, not just a fun story. I could tell the world what happened, and if you knew the actual story, you would understand why that’s something I cannot share right now.” She added that she is still processing a great deal and must prioritise herself and her loved ones, even as some online voices appear ready to mock or sensationalise the situation. A source in direct contact with Arendse has confirmed the incident was a genuine crime and not a hoax, stating she was taken against her will. The severe trauma involved has led her family to plead for privacy. New details have emerged from the Engen service station in Surrey Estate where the abduction reportedly occurred. A manager described the suspect’s white Nissan Almera as showing signs of tampering, with a rear number plate that appeared secured with clear silicone and lacking proper registration. The driver, described by witnesses as a very tall Coloured man estimated to be between 39 and 41 years old, wearing a cap, with a beard but no moustache and visible pimples on the back of his head, reportedly had a heated exchange inside the store with one of the two men accompanying Arenas before speeding off with her still in the vehicle. The timeline indicates that early on Monday, after a night out near The Shack, Arendse and two childhood friends accepted a lift from the unknown driver when their phones were dead. He detoured to the Engen at the corner of Ruimte Weg and Sirius Road. While her friends entered the store, the vehicle accelerated away. A close friend, Jade Pretorius, launched an urgent search that same morning and later reported the matter at Manenberg Police Station. Arendse returned home at approximately 10:58 pm. Night-shift officers recorded only that she had been found, without documenting the circumstances of her recovery. Police have advised that a formal detective request is required to obtain the relevant CCTV footage. Arendse’s words remind us that survivors are not obligated to turn their trauma into public entertainment or immediate explanations. Speculation, rumours, and pressure can compound harm. At JustAdvocacy we stand with her right to heal on her own terms while supporting the need for a thorough, respectful investigation. Accurate information and community restraint matter more than viral theories. #JustAdvocacy #FatimaArendse #SurreyEstate #CapeTown #RespectPrivacy