Latest news with #Fourways
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
Wanted Mozambican kidnapper killed by cops in Fourways
In yet another success story for the national anti-kidnapping task team, a wanted Mozambican kidnapper was shot dead this week during a tracing operation in Johannesburg. National police spokesperson Brig Athlende Mathe said the anti-kidnapping task team traced a Mozambican kidnapping kingpin to a block of apartments in Fourways. 'The team was tracing a kidnapped Pakistani businessman from Pretoria West. He is still in captivity and the team is still searching for [him]. A ransom demand has been made to the businessman's family,' Mathe said. The tracing operation began at a residential complex in Midrand where they seized a Mercedes-Benz, a silver Pajero and arrested two kidnappers. 'They proceeded to Fourways where the task team announced their arrival and a shoot-out ensued. One suspect was fatally wounded and upon further investigation, it was discovered that 40-year-old Mauro Mucambe Junior is a wanted kidnapping kingpin in Mozambique where he has been linked to several kidnappings. His warrant of arrest was issued by Maputo police in August 2024.' One unlicensed firearm used by the fugitive was seized, including 10 rounds of ammunition. Four cellphones and four bank cards were also seized. 'The SAPS has full faith and confidence in the work of the anti-kidnapping task team to rescue the kidnapped businessman. Since January 2024, the team has arrested more than 170 criminals involved in kidnappings for ransom. More than R1.2m has been recovered. More than 100 victims were rescued mainly in Gauteng and more than 40 vehicles used in kidnapping crimes were seized by the team. 'The anti-kidnapping task team recently registered a breakthrough in the Olorato Mongale murder case where they led the tracing operation of Philangenkosi Makhanya. The search is still on for Bongani Mthimkhulu,' Mathe said. TimesLIVE
News24
9 hours ago
- News24
Mozambican kidnapping kingpin killed in Joburg as R27m ransom case unfolds
A wanted Mozambican kidnapping kingpin, Mauro Mucambe Junior, was killed in a shootout with police in Fourways. The police operation is linked to the kidnapping of a Pakistani businessman from Pretoria West. A R27-million ransom was demanded for his release. A suspected Mozambican kidnapping kingpin was killed in a shootout with police in Fourways, Johannesburg, amid an ongoing investigation into the abduction of a Pretoria West businessman. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Saturday said the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team had been following leads on the kidnapping of a Pakistani national who remains in captivity. A R27-million ransom demand was made to his family. The victim is a prominent wholesale supplier to hundreds of shops across Gauteng. Police first swooped on a residential complex in Carlswald, Midrand, where they arrested two suspects and seized a Mercedes-Benz and silver Pajero. They then moved to Fourways, where a shootout ensued. Supplied/SAPS 'One suspect was fatally wounded, and it was later confirmed that the deceased was 40-year-old Mauro Mucambe Junior, a wanted kidnapping mastermind in Mozambique,' said Mathe. 'A warrant for his arrest was issued in Maputo in August 2024.' Police recovered an unlicenced firearm with ten rounds of ammunition, four cellphones, and four bank cards during the operation. Since January 2024 to date, Mathe said the task team had arrested more than 170 criminals involved in kidnappings for ransom. More than R1.2 million had been recovered and more than 100 people rescued, mainly in Gauteng, and more than 40 vehicles used in kidnapping crimes were also seized, she added. The task team was also instrumental in tracking down Philangenkosi Makhanya, wanted in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale, whose body was found in Lombardy West after she went missing following a date. The search continues for his alleged accomplice, Bongani Mthimkhulu.
