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Daily Maverick
29-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
Suspects arrested after using stolen Nelson Mandela Bay municipal bakkie for business robbery
A stolen municipal bakkie – with its signage and number plates removed – was recovered by Atlas Security in Walmer on Monday afternoon after it was flagged on its system as the getaway vehicle in a business robbery. On Saturday morning in Nelson Mandela Bay, fast-moving Atlas Security vehicles managed to catch suspects who had allegedly robbed a business using a stolen and disguised municipal vehicle. Atlas Security's Wayne Hart said early on Saturday morning that its CCTV network picked up a white Nissan Navara sought in connection with a business robbery. 'The Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) team first spotted the vehicle heading into Walmer location with five occupants. Given the circumstances, our RIU and area vehicles monitored the movement, and continued visible patrols in Walmer and surrounding areas. 'A bit later, another alert came through. This time, the vehicle was picked up in Mangold Park through Atlas Security's CCTV infrastructure,' Hart said. He said two vehicles were stationed in 8th Avenue, Walmer. One vehicle covered Walmer Boulevard and two were assigned to Targetkloof. 'The Nissan Navara was located and quickly surrounded at the corner of 8th Avenue and Villiers Road in Walmer. At the scene, two suspects were found in the vehicle. Another was located nearby with his family. Our officers escorted the suspects and the vehicle to Walmer Police Station, where a closer inspection confirmed it was a stolen municipal vehicle,' Hart said. 'The suspects had tried to cover up its identity by painting over the official unit numbers and municipal markings with white house paint, and fitting false number plates,' he added. The theft of fleet vehicles belonging to municipalities and the provincial Department of Transport has notably increased since the beginning of the year. Last Thursday, a vehicle belonging to the road construction team of the Eastern Cape Department of Transport was hijacked at gunpoint and its driver held hostage at Askeaton just outside Cofimvaba, where roadworks are in progress. Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said a group of armed men in a VW Polo forcefully stopped the foreman who was driving the double-cab bakkie. 'They demanded keys to the bakkie, put him in the backseat and drove with him for some distance before releasing him. He managed to contact the office and the police to report the incident. The vehicle tracker was immediately activated and, hours later, the bakkie was found abandoned in a forest at a village in Cofimvaba,' Binqose said. He added that the thieves had already stripped the vehicle of parts. This was the fifth attack on government vehicles since June. In the other cases, yellow fleet vehicles, used in road construction, were hijacked by armed men at several sites. One of the attacks occurred on the R61, where a team of road workers had to run for their lives as gunshots were fired in the crane truck they were travelling in. The team was fixing potholes between Engcobo and Dutywa, and was on their way to Komani when the incident happened. Binqose said the team had to abandon the truck and run into a nearby village, where they were able to call the police for assistance. 'The truck was still there as a bullet damaged one of its engine components. It was towed to the Cofimvaba Police Station,' he added. Previously, armed men also stole a truck and took its wheels, and then stole the department's bakkie as a getaway vehicle. In June, a tipper truck was stolen and later recovered in Elliotdale. DM
Daily Maverick
25-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Family of kidnapped Lindsay Knowlden praise Hawks
Gqeberha resident Lindsay Knowlden was safely returned to her family early on Wednesday after being abducted at gunpoint from the Fresh Produce Market in Markman on Saturday. The incident has reignited urgent calls for improved security in the crime-ridden industrial area. The family of kidnapping survivor Lindsay Knowlden, who was returned to her family on Wednesday morning, have praised the Hawks, the police, Atlas Security and the community for the 'massive efforts' to bring her home. Knowlden was abducted by two armed men from the parking garage at the Fresh Produce Market in Markman Industrial early on Saturday morning, 21 June. A white Toyota Fortuner reportedly blocked the garage entrance while Knowlden was forced into a Volkswagen Polo and driven away. The getaway vehicle was later flagged on CCTV footage but had been fitted with cloned number plates. Speaking on behalf of the family, family friend John Best said they were grateful to have Knowlden back. He said she was safe and not physically hurt. He added that the family appreciated the wide support they had received. Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said: 'The Hawks in the Eastern Cape can confirm that a 65-year-old female victim, who was reportedly abducted on the morning of 21 June 2025 in Gqeberha, has been safely reunited with her family in the early hours of this morning. Following her recovery, the victim was examined by medical professionals. At this stage, we kindly request that the family be afforded the privacy and time they need to process and recover from this distressing ordeal.' Mhlakuvana said the investigation remains ongoing and 'we continue to pursue all possible leads'. He urged anyone who may have information that could assist in the matter to come forward, saying their identities would be protected. Andre Snyman from eBlockwatch, a community crime-fighting network, also confirmed Knowlden's safe return on Wednesday morning. 'To the police, private teams, community networks, and every person who shared, searched and stood together – thank you. This was a massive team effort. We are deeply grateful,' Snyman said in a social media post. The news was also confirmed by Wayne Hart from Atlas Security, the private security provider for the couple's business, which was first on the scene. The kidnapping has once again put the spotlight on the security concerns of business owners in Markman Industrial. For the past two years, members of the Markman Business Forum and business owners have been pleading with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for improved security infrastructure, specifically a 300m fence to improve the safety of those who work in the area, spokesperson Graham Taylor said on Sunday. Taylor said that a meeting had been held this month with acting city manager Ted Pillay and 'some commitments were made', adding that boundaries of Markman Industrial are incredibly porous. 'We are vulnerable on three sides of the area. We need a 300m fence. That corner where the Fresh Produce Market is has always been a problem,' he said. He said that, to the municipality's credit, it had tried to improve the security at that market and had built a wall around the facility. 'But personally I have never seen security guards there. The problem is that it remains completely accessible from the back,' Taylor said. He said the area was monitored by private security but urgently needed a fence. 'That way we can introduce proper access control.' He said that currently, anybody could enter the area. Earlier this month, Sanral construction manager Victor Ngcobo was kidnapped from Addo Road, 3km from the latest abduction. He was released unharmed. In April, American missionary Josh Sullivan was kidnapped from a church a mere 5km from Markman Industrial. He was freed by the police after they found his kidnappers in the process of moving him. Three men who had held him were killed in a shootout. DM
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Kidnapped Gqeberha resident is back with her family
A 65-year-old Gqeberha woman who was kidnapped after arriving for work at a fresh produce market at the weekend is back home with her family. "Lindsay Knowlden has been safely returned," Andre Snyman, founder of community safety organisation eblockwatch, said on Facebook early on Wednesday. "To the police, private teams, community networks and every person who shared, searched and stood together, thank you. This was a massive team effort." Atlas Security, which was called out to the kidnapping at the weekend, confirmed: "We are pleased to report Lindsay Knowlden has been reunited with her family." Knowlden was abducted from the underground parking lot at the Markman fresh produce market at 6am on Saturday. Her husband Peter, who tried to fight the two assailants, was pistol-whipped and sustained a cut above his eyes, according to Snyman. Knowlden was forced into a Polo with cloned number plates. TimesLIVE
Daily Maverick
23-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Business community reels after kidnapping incident: Nelson Mandela Bay's security crisis deepens
On Saturday morning at 6 am, Gqeberha resident Lindsay Knowlden, 65, was kidnapped from the Fresh Produce Market in Markman Industrial Area. While the kidnapping has sent shockwaves through the Nelson Mandela Bay community, frustrated business owners, whose businesses are under threat from protection rackets, have been calling for improved security in that area for more than two years. For the past two years, members of the Markman Business Forum and business owners have been pleading with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality for improved security infrastructure, more specifically a 300m fence to improve the safety of those who work in the area, spokesperson Graham Taylor said on Sunday. On Saturday, the business community was shocked after Peter and Lindsay Knowlden were attacked in the underground parking at the Fresh Produce Market. Peter Knowlden was assaulted with a firearm and his wife Lindsay was kidnapped. 'We have been battling now for close on two years, and you almost get the feeling that the municipality is trying its best to avoid us,' Taylor said. Taylor said that a meeting had been held earlier this month with acting city manager Ted Pillay and 'some commitments were made'. 'The boundaries of Markman Industria are incredibly porous,' Taylor said. 'Vulnerable' 'We are vulnerable on three sides of the area. We need a 300m fence. That corner where the Fresh Produce Market is has always been a problem,' he said. He said that to the municipality's credit, it had tried to improve the security at the Fresh Produce market and had built a wall around the facility. 'But personally, I have never seen security guards there. The problem is that it remains completely accessible from the back,' Taylor said. He said the area was monitored by private security, but it urgently needed a fence. 'That way we can introduce proper access control.' He said that currently, anybody could enter the area. 'That Addo corridor is a major challenge,' he said, referring to the road that runs from the N2 through Motherwell to Addo. 'We have been having meetings with logistics service providers and industry stakeholders just to address crime,' Taylor said. 'Businesses have the solution, but people need to start listening.' He said that as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the area, the cost of business had shot up. Some businesses now had to pay R300,000 a month for security. 'Protection racket' Taylor said a protection racket was being run in the area, and any vehicle leaving without security would be followed and hijacked, especially those transporting food. 'Demanding protection money has become a trend,' he said. 'People know exactly what is in those vehicles.' Wayne Hart from Atlas Security said they had been called in on Saturday after Lindsay Knowlden was kidnapped, as the couple were clients. 'As you, we are deeply concerned about the kidnapping of Lindsay Knowlden, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning. Atlas Security was first on the scene, and our team responded immediately after being alerted. 'Our control room and teams have been working closely with the local authorities, using our extensive network of CCTV cameras across Nelson Mandela Bay to assist in the investigation. We can confirm that the vehicle involved was flagged, but in the interest of the ongoing investigation, further details cannot be shared at this time. 'We are aware that the Hawks have received a ransom demand for Lindsay's safe return. The case is now in the hands of the Hawks and SAPS, and Atlas Security will continue to cooperate fully with all roleplayers as the investigation unfolds. 'Our thoughts are with Lindsay's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We urge anyone with information to contact SAPS,' Atlas said. SAPS spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed the incident, and that the case had been transferred to the Hawks. The Fresh Produce Market is a Nelson Mandela Bay municipal facility, but by last night, municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya had not responded to questions about security measures there. Earlier this month, Sanral construction manager Victor Ngcobo was kidnapped from Addo Road, 3km from the latest abduction. He was released unharmed.
News24
22-06-2025
- News24
Hawks probe Gqeberha woman's abduction as security firm reports ransom demand
Andre Snyman eblockwatch/Facebook Lindsay Knowlden, 65, was kidnapped by armed men from the Nelson Mandela Bay Fresh Produce Market parking lot on Saturday; her husband was assaulted during the abduction. Atlas Security reports that a ransom demand has been made for Knowlden's safe return, though this has not been confirmed by authorities. The security company has provided CCTV footage after flagging the silver VW Polo used in the abduction, and the case has been transferred to the Hawks for investigation. While police were not yet able to confirm that there had been a ransom demand in the kidnapping of a Gqeberha woman, a security company that was first at the scene following the abduction reports that such a demand had been made. Lindsay Knowlden, 65, was abducted from the underground parking lot of the Nelson Mandela Bay Fresh Produce Market in Markman on Saturday morning. 'We are aware that the Hawks have received a ransom demand for Lindsay's safe return. The case is now in the hands of the Hawks and SAPS (South African Police Service),' said Atlas Security in a Facebook post on Sunday. Atlas also said its control room and teams had been working closely with local authorities, using its extensive network of CCTV cameras across Nelson Mandela Bay to assist in the investigation. 'We can confirm that the vehicle involved was flagged but, in the interest of the ongoing investigation, further details cannot be shared at this time.' READ | 'Wonderful' and 'loved by all' - 65-year-old woman reported kidnapped in Gqeberha Police spokesperson Andre Beetge told News24 that the case had been handed over to the Hawks for investigation. Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana confirmed that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) was investigating. 'The Eastern Cape Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) confirms that an investigation into a kidnapping reported on 21 June 2025 in Gqeberha is actively under way. The Hawks have taken over the matter; [the nitty-gritty] around the investigation will not be revealed, due to the sensitivity of the case. The DPCI appeals to the public for any information related to this incident to come forward,' said Mhlakuvana. When contacted for comment and asked if he could confirm the information shared by Atlas Security, Knowlden's son, Gregory, directed News24 to the police. According to information provided by the security company, Knowlden and her husband were accosted by armed men in the parking lot after arriving for work. Her husband was assaulted with a gun while she was bundled into a silver VW Polo and driven away.
