By Everson Luhanga
The SAPS on Monday rescued a Portuguese business owner who was kidnapped from his butchery in Florida west of Johannesburg.
Police arrested one of the kidnappers and are looking for more suspects.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that police had, in the past six months, rescued 12 business people and six students who had been kidnapped for ransom.
“The man was kidnapped from his business premises in Florida on 24 June,” said Mathe.
On Monday evening, 1 July, the team traced the victim to a home in Snake Park, Soweto, where he had been held captive.
The same evening, police arrested one of his captors in Turffontein in southern Johannesburg.
The 39-year-old suspect is believed to be part of a syndicate responsible for at least four other kidnappings targeting business people in Johannesburg.
“The team is currently tracing other suspects who collaborated with the arrested man,” Mathe added.
In cases where business people and students have been rescued, no ransom payments were made.
Mathe reported that from January 2024 to date, 49 kidnappers have been arrested in Gauteng, North West, and the Free State for demanding ransom payments from victims’ families.
Additionally, 21 vehicles used to commit these crimes have been confiscated, and eight firearms have been seized.
Pictured above: A suspect arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a Portuguese businessman.
Source: SAPS
