Five suspects, including a Zimbabwean, his wife, girlfriend, and two others, have been detained for allegedly kidnapping a businessman from Midrand in Gauteng.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), after the kidnapping of the Midrand businessman, the five accused requested money from the victim’s family and business associates.
A multidisciplinary squad led by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team detained the suspects in residential areas between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Multiple phones and SIM cards have been seized, according to police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Quantum used in the execution of the crime have also been recovered.
Earlier in January 2023, police rescued a Gauteng businessman and arrested six members of a kidnapping ring. Image: SAPS
Six individuals were apprehended on the morning of January 19 and were thought to be affiliated with a kidnapping ring that targets company owners in Gauteng.
The authorities have had the suspects in their sights for some time. Thursday, a multidisciplinary team commanded by the Special Task Force (STF) and hostage negotiators raided multiple residences in Jeppe, Helderwyk, Brackenhurst, and Daveyton.
“A kidnapped businessman was successfully freed from one of the locations and reunited with his family on January 7, 2023. At this location, police also seized five high-powered vehicles, including two BMWs, two Mercedes Benz sedans, and one Toyota Urban Cruiser, according to Brigadier Mathe.
»Businessman’s kidnapping suspects include a Zimbabwean mastermind, his wife, and his girlfriend«