Kidnapped truck driver rescued in Komatipoort, two arrested

A truck driver was allegedly kidnapped near the Lebombo Border Post on Thursday December 15.

An unsuspecting truck driver was allegedly kidnapped on Thursday December 15 and held overnight, and his captors demanded a R50 000 ransom from his employees.

A collaborative operation between the National Intervention Unit, the South African National Defence Force, the Air Wing, Crime Intelligence, hostage negotiators, the K9 Unit, several detectives as well as the victim’s employer saw the driver rescued and two men arrested.

A statement by a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the man had stopped his truck under a railway bridge in Komatipoort near the Lebombo Border on Thursday afternoon and went to buy some food.

Mohlala said when the driver returned to his truck, two armed suspects held him at gunpoint and took him into some nearby bushes.

He said the suspects had allegedly demanded a ransom of R50 000 to be deposited to them by the driver’s employer.

The various stakeholders worked tirelessly to search for the driver, but due to the rain on Thursday, the search had to be called off.

The suspects contacted the victim’s colleague as well as the employer, and made further financial demands.

The stakeholders were able to trace the driver and two men, aged 25 and 28, were arrested.

Mohlala said an airgun, four cellphones, a large sum of money and two knives were found in their possession.

The two were charged with kidnapping as well as possession of suspected stolen properties, and are expected to appear in the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday December 19.

“The police cannot rule out the possibility that the two could have been involved in the previous kidnapping incident, in which a truck driver went through a similar ordeal this past week,” said Mohlala.

He said more suspects could be arrested as the investigation continues.

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, said the Mpumalanga police would continue to hunt for the other suspects involved. She praised the hard work from the various stakeholders.