Three Chinese nationals are among fourteen suspected kidnappers arrested by the South African Police Service's anti-kidnapping task team in Gauteng for kidnapping. The suspects, including two Mozambicans, allegedly kidnapped a Zimbabwean businessman near his business premises on Sunday. 

VICTIM FOUND ALIVE

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said on Monday afternoon the anti-kidnapping task team, working closely with private security partners, managed to find the kidnapped victim alive at an identified address in Diepkloof, Soweto. "They also managed to trace his alleged 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 Multiple speed point machines, a large sum of cash that was withdrawn from the victim's bank account and two firearms, including a firearm stolen during a house robbery in Linden in 2023, are among the items that have were seized and recovered from the kidnappers," said Mathe.

KIDNAPPING SYNDICATES

The police have in recent weeks been able to intercept a number of kidnappers linked to syndicates who kidnap businessmen and demand large sums of ransom. In less than two weeks, two businessmen, who are in the butchery business, were rescued in Soweto after being abducted outside their business premises. No ransom money had been paid in both cases. Communities are urged to continue to report suspicious activities in and around their neighbourhood to ensure that the police deal decisively with the criminals.