According to the Carletonville police, the incident happened on the night of Wednesday, 2 February.
A man and his friend had just arrived at his home in Osmium Street at approximately 22:30 when the criminals struck. Suddenly, seven Sotho-speaking men appeared and jumped into the resident’s VW Golf 7 with them.
The thugs drove them to the Deelkraal area, where they stopped in the veld. They then called the owner of the car’s family and demanded a million rand for their safe release.
The family could only raise R210,000, which the kidnappers accepted.
A family representative dropped the money off at another location near Deelkraal. The kidnappers then released the residents near Elandsrand, but only after beating them up.
The Golf 7 was later recovered near Wedela.
The Carletonville police are investigating charges of carjacking, kidnapping and extortion following the incident.