Gauteng police record almost 150 kidnappings for ransom cases between Jan & March
On Thursday, the anti-kidnapping unit, organised crime unit and private security closed in on a case where a businessman was kidnapped for almost two months.
ALSO READ: 'Catch us if you can': Lenasia businessman's kidnappers dared police to find them
According to police, the kidnappers demanded R15 million from the victim's family, who only managed to pay R2 million.
Earlier in the week, the police nabbed one of the suspects who led them to where the businessman was kept by four of his accomplices.
However, before police found the exact location of the Greenhills house, the kidnappers sent police a message daring the officers to find them.
Deputy Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said that in the last two years, more than 170 kidnappers who demanded ransom were arrested by police.
'It's rife but with these types of successes, the most pleasing and humbling thing is that the victim was rescued alive and unharmed.'
The 60-year-old victim was reunited with his family.
KIDNAPPERS BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO MORE CASES
Kekana said the men linked to the kidnapping case where the businessman was kept in a house in Randfontein are believed to be linked to more cases.
During the operation two of the suspects were killed during a shootout with police and two others were arrested.
The police were unharmed during the shootout.
Kekana said they will continue with investigations.
'We are currently busy doing further linkages, but the obvious thing is that this is not the only case where they are linked, and there can be more than we even think.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- The Citizen
Company paid R20m retention fee despite missing deadlines to complete Limpopo road for 3 years
It is likely that a further R15 million will need to be paid before the road is finished. The Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL), a subsidiary of the Limpopo department of public works, roads and infrastructure, is being investigated for paying a contractor a R20 million retention fee for a project that has missed completion deadlines for more than three years. RAL is responsible for the construction of roads in Limpopo. A retention fee is described as a percentage of the contract value, which is held by the employer as a security for the quality of the workmanship and material. It is usually paid months after the successful completion of a project. R20m paid despite missed deadlines Through its acting CEO, Makhitha Chesane, RAL confirmed that the R20 million payment was made to the company. He said forensic investigations are at an advanced stage. The money was allegedly paid to a company called Amawakawaka Projects. The company is said to have been contracted to convert a 29km road from gravel to tar in Sekgosese in the Greater Letaba local municipality, budgeted to cost R400 million. However, only R3.5 million is left, with two bridges and nearly 10km left to be tarred. ALSO READ: Roads Agency Limpopo probes irregular expenditure An expert in the construction industry, who asked to speak anonymously, said that for each 1km, the government must be prepared to pay about R15 million. Project manager says he's done nothing wrong The R20 million was allegedly paid to the company during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in the 2021-22 financial year. The road project starts in Morobeng and ends at Wholesale Plaza in the Sekgosese area. It was expected to be completed in August 2022, but the deadline was missed several times. The payment was allegedly facilitated by the project manager, Musa Ndlovu, and his principals at RAL. Ndlovu refused to comment, claiming that although he believes he has done nothing wrong, he would prefer to first give his reasons for signing off the payment to his bosses before speaking to the media. The payment remained undisclosed for three years and only came to light during a meeting of the Greater Letaba local municipality on Wednesday. ALSO READ: R100m budgeted to fix Limpopo roads In 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa was shown the project by former premier Stan Mathabatha, RAL officials and ANC ward councillors. The former CEO, Gabriel Maluleke, resigned from RAL after a protracted court dispute with the agency. His employment contract officially ended on 31 December 2024, with RAL setting aside his dismissal and suspension. Mathabatha, who is now the Deputy Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development, promised Ramaphosa that the project was on track and would be completed before the August 2022 deadline. Investigation underway Asked for comment, RAL CEO Makhitha Chesane said he only became aware of the payment on 4 July 2025, when he was inspecting the site. Chesane said he had to report the matter to the MEC first. 'RAL cannot tolerate corruption. We are just waiting for the outcome of the forensic investigations to apply consequence management,' he said. At the project site, Premier Phophi Ramathuba confirmed that forensic investigations into the project were underway. She said the money paid to the contractor was part of the forensic investigations, launched by public works MEC Ernest Sebataolo Rachoene when he took over the department on 18 June 2024. ALSO READ: Work begins on rail link between Gauteng and Polokwane A few months after Rachuene joined the department, several RAL board members resigned. A new board was appointed months later. 'I have instructed MEC Rachuene and Chesane to investigate all the brouhaha taking place at the project. They must see if the relationship between the contractors and RAL is mendable or irreparable. If not, I give them only four weeks to appoint new contractors and new engineers to complete the project within a period of 12 months,' Ramathuba said.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
High life to 'high and dry': Where is MaMkhize's ex, Sbu Mpisane?
While Shauwn Mkhize – also known as MaMkhize – has been hogging the headlines lately for all the wrong reasons, her ex, Sbu Mpisane, has been lying low. The former policeman-turned-politician and the businesswoman officially divorced last year. Although MaMkhize and Sbu Mpisane publicly announced their separation in 2019, their divorce was formally finalised last year. Mpisane – the father of Andile and Sbahle – claimed their split had not left him 'high and dry', as assumed by the public. He told Sunday World: 'I have survived from the inception of the divorce, and I still do. The final divorce settlement was in line with the constitution and laws of the country. 'However, our divorce papers were clear that our marriage was irreparable, based on the reasons known to her since she was the author of the divorce.' According to Sbu Mpisane's legal representative, assets accumulated in their marriage were 'distributed equally.' Furthermore, it was agreed that neither party was legally responsible for the other's debts. Sbu Mpisane first made headlines for his lavish lifestyle as a Metro police officer in the dog unit department in Durban. Despite earning less than R20 000 per month, the hotshot cop drove a Lamborghini to work and lived in a R15,5 million mansion, claims The Witness. Sbu and Shauwn (MaMkhize) often flashed their cash through star-studded parties, attended by the who's who of society and cabinet. The high-flying couple claimed that their wealth was accrued through their multimillion-rand business tenders. Sbu soon resigned from the Metro police and joined his wife in their family business, Zikhulise Group, which deals in the construction, cleaning, maintenance, and transport sectors. Where is MaMkhize's ex-husband, Sbu Mpisane, now? Images via Instagram: @royalam_fc/Gap Fixers SA After their split in 2019, there was a disagreement about ownership of their soccer club, Royal Eagles. The club later became Real Kings, and Royal AM, which has since been expelled from the PSL. The 'dirty laundry' was aired via an Instagram rant by their son, Andile Mpisane. In 2023, Sbu Mpisane – who still resides in their La Lucia marital home – announced his political ambitions as the chairperson of the Gap Fixers of South Africa party. He continues his work in the party, which promises to 'fix' racial inequality in the country. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Creecy approaches banks to seek easier debt repayment deals for taxi industry
The transport department says it has approached banks and Toyota to request easier repayment options for taxi owners on their vehicle loans to curb violence over routes. This was revealed by minister Barbara Creecy on Thursday, who said the root cause of taxi violence was indebted taxi operators who wanted to pocket more money by taking over routes illegally. She said the taxi industry was struggling to be profitable. 'An operator will make R15,000 to R16,000 a month on an average route. Of course there are more profitable routes. You are earning R16,000 but you have a liability of R28,000, so the question is how do you fill the hole. And that is where the problem begins because you would want to operate on what you regard as a more profitable route,' she said. Creecy said some operators have resorted to moonlighting as scholar transport operators to close the financial gap. Her department was working with Toyota and the banks to find a way to de-risk the loans, she said. 'I am not saying these financial practices justify irregular practices — they don't. But I am saying that what we have undertaken is to look at de-risking the loans.' The industry has been marred by violence recently, with shootings and killings in Katlehong, Soweto and Mpumalanga where even buses have been torched. In the latest incident, Sowetan sister publication TimesLIVE reported that Western Cape detectives were investigating four murders and three attempted murders after a shooting at a taxi rank in Mfuleni last month.
