The SAPS’ Gauteng anti-kidnapping task team arrested eight suspects in Greenstone Park on charges related to kidnapping on July 15.
According to SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the eight suspects were part of a group of 14 who had reportedly kidnapped a Zimbabwean businessman on July 14.
She said by the afternoon of July 15, the anti-kidnapping task team, which includes various other SAPS units, located the kidnapped victim.
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Mathe said the victim was found safe and alive at an identified address in Diepkloof, Soweto.
“The officers also managed to trace the 14 kidnappers to various locations. The first eight were traced to an apartment in Greenstone Park, and the rest were arrested in Sandton,” Said Mathe.
She said multiple speed point machines, a large sum of cash withdrawn from the victim’s bank account, and two firearms, including one stolen during a house robbery in Linden in 2023, were among the items the SAPS seized and recovered.
“The SAPS has, in recent weeks, been able to intercept several kidnappers linked to syndicates that kidnap businessmen and demand large sums of ransom,” said Mathe.
The SAPS urges communities to continue reporting suspicious activities in and around their neighbourhood to ensure the criminals are dealt with decisively.
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Following the arrest, the Edenvale CPF congratulated and thanked all the involved parties for their outstanding efforts in ensuring community safety.
The forum said the arrests were a testament to the dedication and swift action of various SAPS departments and key stakeholders.
