R15m ransom plot foiled in Greenhills: Two kidnappers killed, victim freed

The Citizen

10-07-2025

Dramatic scenes unfolded at a house on Fritz Krampe Road in Greenhills this afternoon, July 10, following reports of a shooting.
The police's Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana, confirmed to the Randfontein Herald that the incident involved a shootout and is linked to the kidnapping of a Lenasia businessman, who has since been reunited with his family.
Kekana explained that the businessman had been kidnapped more than 40 days ago and held for a ransom of over R15 million.
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He said one of the suspects had already been arrested on July 8.
Read the initial article here: Heavy police presence after reported shooting in Greenhills
'Crime Intelligence managed to trace another two suspects, one of them the kingpin, and arrested them in Johannesburg today [July 10]. Thereafter, authorities brought the suspects to the home of the kingpin, where the victim was held,' he said.
Kekana continued that when authorities arrived at the house, two more suspects were inside.
'Upon entering, a shootout between the police and suspects occurred and, consequently, the two suspects were shot dead. Over the past two years, we have managed to arrest over 170 kidnappers in Gauteng. From January to March, we received 144 cases of kidnapping where ransom was demanded,' Kekana emphasised.
The family of the 60-year-old victim was reunited with him at the scene. In addition to a strong police presence, members of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Visible Policing (Vispol), CPF and Rand West Neighbourhood Watch were also on the scene.
The Herald interviewed the kidnap victim's son, who said his father was taken from his business premises.
'It was just an ordinary day and it happened so fast. It is a very testing time for the family. We were all emotionally broken. We are thankful to God and to the police. It was a long, dreadful six weeks. We all just prayed for his good health and that a miracle would happen. He is emotionally broken and will need time to recover,' the victim's son said.
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