Fourteen kidnappers, including two Mozambican and three Chinese nationals, have been apprehended by the anti-kidnapping task team of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng.
This comes after a businessman from Zimbabwe was allegedly abducted by the accused on Sunday. This took place close to the man’ssd;s place of employment.
The kidnapped victim was found secure and alive at a known address in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Monday afternoon.
According to police Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the anti-kidnapping task team started a search for the accused. The team is composed of many other SAPS units and collaborates closely with private security partners.
Anti-kidnapping task force traced all culprits
“They also managed to trace the 14 kidnappers at various locations. The first eight were traced to an apartment in Greenstone Park. And the rest were arrested in Sandton.
“Multiple speed point machines, a large sum of cash that was withdrawn from the victim’s bank account, and two firearms are among the items that have been seized and recovered from the kidnappers. Including a firearm stolen during a house robbery in Linden in 2023,” said Mathe.
Mathe further urged communities to continue to report suspicious activities in and around their neighbourhood. This to ensure that criminals are dealt with.
Recently, the police intercepted a number of kidnappers linked to syndicates who kidnap businessmen. They then demand large sums of money for ransom.
In a different incident, a Portuguese businessman was rescued from Nancefield hostel in Soweto. There he was held captive by five suspects.
The businessman, who owns a Waltloo butchery in Johannesburg, was kidnapped at the Southgate Mall, south of Joburg.
13 businessmen, 6 students kidnapped, rescued this year
National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, said from January to date, 13 businessmen and at least six students were kidnapped. They were all rescued without ransom being paid.
More than 54 kidnappers have been arrested since January, according to Masemola. They operate in Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, and the Free State
“In the past two years, more than 200 kidnappers have been arrested. All thanks to the commitment of our dedicated teams,” said Masemola.
