KwaZulu-Natal Man Arrested After Holding Partner and Five-Year-Old Daughter Hostage in Wentwort

A tense hostage situation in Wentworth, south of Durban, ended without serious injury on Sunday morning after police negotiators secured the release of a woman and her five-year-old daughter.

The incident unfolded shortly after 6am on Sunday, 21 December 2025, at a block of flats on Austerville Drive. A man believed to be in his 40s was arrested after allegedly holding his partner and child hostage during a dramatic standoff involving law enforcement and emergency services.

Early Morning Incident at Block of Flats

According to information gathered at the scene, the man arrived at the flats in the early hours of the morning with his daughter and was allegedly armed. Residents told eNCA that he demanded to be let inside a flat, threatening to shoot himself if his partner did not comply.

He reportedly remained inside the flat for a period before leaving with his partner, child, a driver and another passenger in a vehicle. While the driver and passenger were later allowed to leave, the man continued to hold his partner and child hostage.

Area Sealed Off as Negotiations Begin

Law enforcement officials quickly responded and cordoned off the area around the block of flats to prevent the man from fleeing. ALS Paramedics were also dispatched to the scene as a precaution.

Garrith Jamieson of ALS Paramedics confirmed that the situation escalated after the man was prevented from leaving the area and continued to hold the hostages inside the vehicle.

Child and Partner Released Safely

After hours of negotiations, SAPS hostage negotiators managed to de-escalate the situation. Jamieson confirmed that the child was released first, followed by the man’s partner.

“A while ago, while on scene, we saw him release a small child into the care of the negotiators. This was followed by his partner, and then we did see that he was arrested,” Jamieson said.

Both the woman and the child were assessed by paramedics and were not reported to have sustained serious physical injuries.

Suspect Taken Into Custody

Following the successful release of the hostages, the man was arrested at the scene. Police have not yet confirmed what charges he will face, but the incident is expected to be investigated as a serious domestic violence and hostage-taking case.

Community Shocked

Residents in the Wentworth area expressed shock at the incident, which unfolded in full view of the community and disrupted the quiet early-morning hours. The situation has once again highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the critical role of trained police negotiators in resolving high-risk incidents without loss of life.

Police are expected to provide further details once the suspect appears in court.