Kidnapping ‘mastermind’ refused bail in Nelson Mandela Bay

25 Jul 2024

The man alleged to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping of two Nelson Mandela Bay business owners was refused bail in the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He was on parole after serving a murder sentence at the time of the kidnappings.

The Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court has dismissed a bail application from the man believed to be the mastermind behind a spate of kidnappings in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro.

Mnyamezeli Lakhona Tete (59) was arrested by the Hawks working with provincial Crime Intelligence and the Makhanda Dog Unit on 9 June 2024.

His co-accused Mzoxolo Eric Grwayibana (38) was released on R3,000 bail on 23 May 2024.

It is alleged that the pair was involved in the kidnapping for ransom of Rodney “Running” Chen on 5 April 2024. Chen was abducted from his North End windscreen business at gunpoint and forced into an Opel Mokka vehicle. The kidnappers then used Chen’s cellphone to call his mother and demand a ransom for his return.

He was found in the middle of the night in Kariega, about 30 km from where he was taken, by the police six days after his kidnapping.

A Toyota Fortuner, believed to have been used in this kidnapping, was later found and seized at a local car wash. An Audi A4 was also seized from Tete’s home in Motherwell.

“An intelligence-driven investigation by the joint team revealed that the victim was kept in three different addresses in Gqeberha. Investigations led to the arrest of one of the suspects at one of the addresses. Tete was arrested on 9 June 2024 and he made his first appearance before the Gqeberha New Law court on 12 June 2024,” Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said.

The court further heard that Tete had been on the run, but intelligence sources said he had been seen in Fort Beaufort.

“The suspect was pulled over 3km away from Fort Beaufort where it was reported that he jumped out of the car in an attempt to evade his arrest. He allegedly ran into the nearby bushes where he was later apprehended,” Mhlakuvana said.

He said Tete left his wife and family members in the car when he ran from the police.

Tete is also allegedly linked to the kidnapping of Sonam Gajjar, 34, in March 2024. She was released unharmed two days after she was abducted. At the time of the kidnappings, Tete was on parole after serving a sentence for murder.

The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, said he appreciated the joint effort of the team in ensuring that Tete was denied bail.

Business leader still missing

Meanwhile, it will be six days since the kidnapping of business leader Kelvin Naidoo from battery manufacturer Auto-X factory in Korsten, Nelson Mandela Bay. Naidoo is the company’s manufacturing and technical director. Naidoo is also the deputy president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.

He was kidnapped at 6 am on Friday morning when he arrived at work in his black Mercedes-Benz.

Read more: Despair after kidnap of Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber deputy president

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said a Nissan NP200 bakkie bumped into Naidoo’s vehicle as he approached the factory on Lindsay Road, Korsten, forcing him to stop. Another bakkie stopped behind him, and five suspects wearing balaclavas got out of the vehicle.

They removed him from his vehicle, forced him into the bakkie and drove off. The suspects left the Nissan NP200 and Naidoo’s vehicle at the scene.

A demand for ransom in return for Naidoo’s release was made a few hours later. The investigation was taken over by the Hawks soon after, but Naidoo remains missing.

In another recent case, on 4 July, Dr Bongani Nqini (55) was rescued by the Hawks and the South African Police’s tactical response team after he was abducted from his surgery in Kwazakhele and held for ransom for four days.

Nqini was rescued unharmed and the vehicle suspected to be involved in the abduction was intercepted in Sidwell, Gqeberha. The driver was arrested, but later released due to a lack of evidence.

Urgent intervention needed

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu visited Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday to meet stakeholders who are concerned about extremely high levels of crime in the metro.

Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Gary van Niekerk said Mchunu had promised that the police force would be boosted by considerable numbers but was waiting to hear exactly how many from the police commissioner.

The CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Denise van Huyssteen, said the safety and security situation in the metro was out of control.

“There has been a lot of focus around the country with the various stakeholders working together to address the electricity and logistical challenges, and in this regard it has been pleasing to see that progress is being made in these key areas.

“Absolute urgency and focus now need to be deployed at national, provincial and local levels to address the very serious safety and security crisis in the country. The unacceptable high poverty and unemployment levels are no doubt key factors influencing this situation, however, these are not an excuse for allowing criminality to continue abated.

“Very strong enforcement of laws is required and all South Africans from all communities need to stand together and become much more proactive in helping to rein in crime at all levels.

“Investment is critical in order to create employment, but investors will not come to countries and cities where it is not safe for their employees and businesses to operate. Also, tourism is an area where thousands of jobs can be created, but tourists will not come to the country if it is not safe to visit.”

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

On 1 July, the Business Chamber launched an initiative to enhance security in the region.

The initiatives, known as Eyes and Ears, is a collaboration between the police, organised agriculture, Agri-SA, Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa), and the Private Security Industry (PSI), who are leveraging expertise and resources to create a coordinated response to crime through shared resources and information.

“The strategic involvement of the right stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the highest impact on safety and security issues affecting business and the city, is what has led to the establishment of this initiative in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Alfie Jay, who heads the Chamber’s Safety and Security Task Team.

The initiative will see a formal cooperation between the private security industry and SAPS relaying information directly to the District Operational Command Centre.

This information sharing will also feed into the Provincial Operations Command Centre located in Zwelitsha (East London) and assist in the fight against crime at a provincial level. DM

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Business leader still missing

Urgent intervention needed