By Doreen Mokgolo
- A municipal official was kidnapped and robbed by six suspects, including his former PA, who forced him to transfer thousands of rands.
- The gang was arrested by police, but one suspect is still on the run.
Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and armed robbery of a Margate municipal official — and one of them is his former personal assistant, who police believe helped plan the crime.
The arrests were made on Wednesday during an operation by the Port Shepstone Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Margate detectives.
The victim, a 39-year-old man, was attacked outside his home on Constanz Drive in Uvongo, Margate, on 30 March.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the group of suspects, which included a woman the victim recognised as his former PA, were allegedly armed.
“They were in the company of a woman whom he identified as his former personal assistant at a municipality he worked for.
“The suspects grabbed the man and forced him inside his house where they allegedly forced him to transfer several thousands of rands into his former PA’s account.
“He was then forced inside his vehicle and the suspects drove with him to a fuel station on the N2 northbound and forced him to transfer more money into the same account.
“They further demanded more money and when the victim told them that he had no money left in his account, he was then given a deadline of 1 April 2025 for him to transfer more,” he said.
Police say they are still looking for one more suspect who is on the run.
The six arrested suspects, aged between 28 and 41, are expected to appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Pictured above: Recovered firearms
Image source: SAPS
