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‘A lucrative commodity’ — huge spike in kidnappings hits SA

‘A lucrative commodity’ — huge spike in kidnappings hits SA
On Wednesday night, 31 July, police seized drugs worth R300-million after rescuing businessman Ashraf Kaka at a house in Lenasia. Eight kidnappers were arrested, including three Tanzanian nationals. The businessman was kidnapped on 5 July 2024, at a mosque in Helderkruin. Roodepoort. (Photo: Supplied)
Vincent Cruywagen
By Vincent Cruywagen
1 Aug 2024
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Last year, the police recorded 15,342 kidnapping cases, a massive increase from 4,306 in 2013/14. The crime is becoming so prevalent that a growing number of people are taking out kidnapping insurance.

On Wednesday, a multidisciplinary police task team rescued businessman Ashraf Kaka from a house in Lenasia, Johannesburg, after he was kidnapped on 5 July outside a mosque in Helderkruin, Roodepoort.

In related events, police raided a hotel in Eastgate and two Fourways apartments and seized R300-million in drugs, suspected to be crystal meth. Eight suspects, including three Tanzanian nationals, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and the drugs.

kidnappings masemola National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola with Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya at the scene where businessman Ashraf Kaka, kidnapped on 5 July 2024 at a mosque in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, was rescued in Lenasia on Wednesday. (Photo: Supplied)



kidnapping south africa Police seized drugs worth R300-million after rescuing businessman Ashraf Kaka at a house in Lenasia. Eight kidnappers were arrested, including three Tanzanian nationals. The businessman was kidnapped on 5 July 2024, at a mosque in Helderkruin. Roodepoort. (Photo: Supplied)



On Thursday, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemala said: “In the past two years more than 250 kidnappers of various nationalities were arrested and more than 20 businessmen have been rescued. Six students were also rescued during this period.

“In a period of six months, more than 54 kidnappers operating in Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Free State have been arrested.”

According to the 2022/23 annual crime stats, the total number of kidnappings in South Africa in that period was 15,342. Gauteng had the highest incidence, with 7,818 reported, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 3,081 kidnappings during the period.

 

The figures reflect a huge increase from 2013/14 when the SAPS recorded 4,306 kidnapping cases.

According to the 2023/24 third-quarter crime statistics, 3,976 kidnapping cases were opened between 1 October and 31 December 2023. Releasing the stats in February, the then police minister Bheki Cele said kidnappings had become a “lucrative commodity for organised crime in South Africa”. 

Of the 3,976 kidnapping cases in the third quarter, ransom was demanded in 138 cases, while 23 were related to human trafficking and 18 were linked to extortion.

Looking at the rise in kidnapping cases, Lizette Lancaster from the Institute for Security Studies wrote in 2023, “This upsurge is related to the substantial growth of violent and organised crime.”

She said police reports showed that in some cases, kidnappers targeted victims for ransom or extortion, but “most attacks are perpetrated during car or truck hijackings or armed robberies at businesses, homes or public spaces.

“The main motives for abducting victims during these robberies include stealing cash via mobile banking applications drawn from bank cards, overriding tracking devices, or delaying the victim from raising the alarm.”

Police ‘stepping up efforts’


On Thursday, Masemola confirmed that the increase in kidnappings was linked to other crimes, such as car hijacking and rape.

“The rise in kidnappings is concerning and police are stepping up their efforts to increase police visibility and track down wanted suspects. With regard to kidnappings where ransom is the motive, our dedicated teams in each province have been able to register commendable progress in rescuing victims and taking down these syndicates,” said Masemola.

He said 14 kidnapping suspects were arrested in Johannesburg two weeks ago, including three Chinese nationals, two Mozambicans and nine South Africans, and a kidnapped Zimbabwean businessman was rescued in Diepkloof, Soweto.

Masemola also mentioned the incident in which the Hawks rescued Gqerberha businessman Kelvin Naidoo on 25 July after he was kidnapped on 19 July outside his workplace.

Read more: Kidnapped Eastern Cape business leader Kelvin Naidoo ‘rescued alive’ in early hours — police

In another case, in late July, Mnyamezeli Lakhona Tete (59), accused of masterminding the kidnapping of two Nelson Mandela Bay business owners, was denied bail by the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court. He was on parole for a murder at the time of the kidnappings.

Tete’s co-accused, Mzoxolo Eric Grwayibana (38), was released on R3,000 bail on 23 May.

It is alleged that the pair were involved in the kidnapping for ransom of Rodney Chen on 5 April. Chen was abducted from his North End windscreen business at gunpoint. The kidnappers used Chen’s cellphone to call his mother and demand a ransom. He was found by the police in the middle of the night in Kariega, about 30km from where he was taken, six days after his kidnapping.

Tete is also allegedly linked to the kidnapping of Sonam Gajjar (34) in March. She was released unharmed two days after she was abducted.

Insurance coverage


Richard Hood, the CEO of insurance provider Olea South Africa, said a growing number of people were purchasing insurance to cover themselves or their children against being kidnapped for ransom.

“Although there is no way to protect yourself from kidnapping, there are ways to mitigate the consequences. Cover is available which provides additional protection for a range of expenses associated with a kidnapping incident, and most policies provide assistance services to manage the incident to secure the best possible outcome.

“Comprehensive insurance provides cover for a range of expenses associated with a kidnapping incident, including ransom payments, negotiation costs, medical care and crisis management services,” said Hood.

Transnational crime syndicates


Shortly after rescuing Kaka on Wednesday, Masemola said the police were actively dismantling the operations of transnational crime syndicates.

“Our men and women in blue remain hard at work in taking down syndicates involved in dealing and the trafficking of drugs. Commendable progress has been registered in recent weeks and we owe those successes to our dedicated police officers and our partners … including private security. We will continue to come after those who are involved in the illicit trade of drug trafficking”, said Masemola.

Read more: SA police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a mission to modernise policing to tackle ‘intolerable’ crime

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said, “The successful rescue of the kidnapped businessman and the substantial drug bust demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. This operation reflects the dedication and bravery of our police officers, who risk their lives daily to protect our communities.

“Our fight against organised crime and drug trafficking requires a united front, leveraging the strengths of various law enforcement agencies. This success is a testament to what we can achieve through collaboration and the diligent application of our resources,” he said.

In June, Daily Maverick reported that a kidnapping case registered in the Western Cape may be linked to a gang, drugs and a vessel that was the subject of a sea rescue. This discovery came after police announced that they had freed 12 businessmen and six students held hostage in various provinces over six months. It is believed that a R50-million ransom was demanded. 

Read more: Suspected 28s gang and cocaine ties to kidnapping case among SA’s latest abduction developments

‘Target the kingpins’


Yusuf Abramjee, an anti-crime activist and the presenter of CrimeWatch on eTV & eNCA, said that while the police’s anti-kidnapping task team was making progress, a lot of work still needed to be done. 

“Kingpins need to be arrested and there is no doubt that some of these kidnapping syndicates have international and cross-border links. Police have told me they have identified some of the kingpins and it is only a matter of time before they arrest them,” he said.

Following the rescue last month of a 49-year-old Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped for ransom in June, Eyewitness News reported that Portuguese South African butchery owners had been targeted in a spate of kidnappings in Gauteng. A total of 20 Portuguese South African butchery owners and managers were said to have been kidnapped since January last year.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said an intelligence-driven operation led by the SAPS’ Special Task Force rescued a Portuguese businessman on 4 July from Nancefield Hostel in Soweto where he was being held captive.

“The man, who owns a butchery in Johannesburg, was kidnapped in June this year [at] Southgate. The man was kidnapped for ransom payment but no payment was made as a direct result of police acting swiftly.”

Mathe said another Portuguese businessman had been rescued from a house in Soweto. DM

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