An intelligence-led operation comprising the Hawks, provincial Anti-kidnapping Unit and hostage-negotiation teams resulted in the arrest of four suspects aged 29 to 42 on Saturday 17 May, for kidnapping, extortion and murder.
Their arrest followed the alleged kidnapping of the murder victim, whose name had not yet been released, in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, earlier this week and who was reported missing on 16 May.
“The victim was last seen by a friend who reported the victim had gone to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to purchase and never came back,” Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Siyabulela Vukubi told TygerBurger. “Later, another friend of the victim received a call from him saying he had been kidnapped and was being assaulted.” It was still unclear at the time of writing what mode of transport the victim had used to get to his destination.
A ransom of R100 000 for his release was demanded by the suspect, an amount later reduced to R10 000. “The suspects provided a bank account for the money to be deposited into,” Vokubi said, “where an amount of R5 000 was allegedly deposited, the kidnappers demanding the balance. All leads led to addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei, where suspects were arrested.”
A further probe led the team to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi Beach and Macassar, where one of the suspects pointed out a shallow grave where the victim had been killed and buried.
All four suspects were expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court today.
