UDM deputy president Nqabayomzi Kwankwa held ransom for R10k

United Democratic Movement (UDM) deputy president Nqabayomzi Kwankwa was kidnapped on Tuesday, with his attackers demanding R10 000 ransom.

The party confirmed this to The Citizen.

It is believed that he had arrived at a hair salon to get his hair cut when he was abducted.

He was set to catch a flight from Cape Town International Airport to Johannesburg to attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Wednesday.

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‘Politically motivated’

The Citizen understands that those in the party believe the kidnapping was politically motivated.

The UDM paid the ransom and a “shaken traumatised” Kwankwa was later released.

All his belongings, including his car, were stolen. His vehicle was later found abandoned.

“Mr. Kwankwa is in contact with the police and his family has been informed of what has occurred. The UDM is saddened by this horrific event but is very grateful for his safe return.

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“We wish Tshawe well on his road to recovery from this dastardly incident,” the party added.

It is not clear whether Kwankwa will still attend the inauguration.

Kidnappings on the rise

A recent Stats SA report painted a grim picture of kidnappings on the rise.

It found there are more than 16,000 kidnappings annually in the country, with 85% of the victims women and children.

“The figures are a major concern of how far and wide this issue is. Kidnappings are on the increase and it is just one form of several other crime types, a bigger web we call money-making rackets.

“Most of them involve organised crime syndicates, some of them with international roots.

“This worrying trend is also not helped by the fact that we are listed seventh in the world for organised crime activities,” Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) told The Citizen earlier this year.