THE FAMOUS ID APPLICATION HOSTAGE THAT HAPPENED LIVE ON RADIO
@Yfm @djsbu 👇🏿
Kabelo Thibedi is a man remembered for his dramatic hostage taking at a government office to obtain his long delayed identity document.
On the 30 November 2005 the 21 year old walked into the Department of Home Affairs regional offices in central Johannesburg and held a female staff member Lanelle Small, hostage inside an office for around six hours. Armed only with a toy gun, Thibedi demanded the immediate issuance and delivery of his ID book. His extreme action stemmed from years of deep frustration ,he had waited more than 2 years, submitted 9 unsuccessful applications, and had already lost a job because he lacked the required document.
The standoff captured national attention. Radio stations across the country received calls from listeners who expressed strong sympathy for his battle against bureaucratic inefficiency. While barricaded in the office, Thibedi called in the popular youth station YFM and spoke live with DJ Sbu, who suddenly found himself acting as an on air negotiator, trying to calm the young man and warn him of the potential consequences. The broadcast dramatically heightened public awareness, drawing thousands of supportive reactions.
To end the crisis Home Affairs officials arranged for Thibedi’s completed ID book to be flown by helicopter from Pretoria to Johannesburg. Once it was handed over, police used stun grenades to storm the room and arrest him. In 2006, he was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to five years in prison.
He later appealed the sentence. In October 2009, the South Gauteng High Court backdated it, allowing him to avoid serving time in actual jail.