• The girl was taken after armed men stormed her home and tried to force her family to hand over money.

• Her kidnappers returned her in an ehailing car and warned the family not to go to the police.

Eight-year-old Omphile Sebiloane has been safely reunited with her family after being kidnapped from her home in Ratanda, outside Heidelberg, Gauteng.

She was taken during a robbery in the early hours of 5 June. The intruders are said to have stormed the house, demanding money.

Omphile is a Grade Two learner at Shalimar Ridge Primary School. She lives with her grandmother, who recently retired from the Lesedi Local Municipality.

The criminals are believed to have targeted the family after learning about the grandmother’s pension payout.

According to a community leader, the robbers became aggressive when the family could not give them cash. They left with the child and clear instructions not to contact the authorities.

Scrolla.Africa has learnt that the kidnappers later returned Omphile in an ehailing car, dropping her at her home and leaving no further instructions.

During the robbery, the suspects allegedly used the family’s phones to transfer money into their own accounts.

No ransom demand was made and no further threats were reported after the girl was returned.

Although Omphile was not physically harmed, the incident has left the community in shock.

The police are investigating. No arrests have been made.

Pictured above: Omphile Sebiloane is safely back home after her kidnappers returned her in an Uber.

Photo supplied.