Mozambique: Immigration authorities tighten the noose on facilitators of illegal immigration in Tete
South Africa: “Mastermind” of kidnappings arrested, 34-year-old with dual Mozambican and South African nationality
3:30 CAT | 18 Mar 2022
Photo: Twitter / @SAPoliceService
- Athlenda Mathe later clarified to Lusa that the Mozambican also has South African nationality.
South African authorities have arrested a 43-year-old Mozambican in southern Johannesburg who is suspected of leading several kidnapping cases in the South African province of Gauteng, where the country’s economic capital is located, was announced today.
In a statement, the spokeswoman for the national command of the South African Police (SAPS), Athlenda Mathe, said that the man was arrested this morning in the suburb of Lenasia, during a multidisciplinary operation to rescue a local businessman.
“Police also found and seized R6 million in cash which is believed to be ransom paid on other kidnapping cases, an unlicensed AK47 rifle, ammunition, one hijacked motor vehicle, a VW polo that was utilised in the kidnapping of the businessman, military grade signal jammers as well as various vehicle registration number plates”, she added.
In addition to the Mozambican kingpin, the South African police arrested five more people in the operation that also covered the city of Pretoria, the country’s capital, according to a spokeswoman for the South African police.
Lenasia’s businessman, Luqman Kazi, 34, kidnapped three days ago, was found and rescued in Pretoria, he said.
Athlenda Mathe later clarified to Lusa that the Mozambican also has South African nationality.
#sapsHQ Another mastermind arrested, R6 MIL in cash seized, victim rescued. A Lenasia businessman has been safely reunited with his family, three days after he was kidnapped. 6 Suspects arrested. MEhttps://t.co/DE3MkSpDJy pic.twitter.com/3XOt3fzCS4
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 18, 2022
In another incident, South African police rescued four Bangladeshi migrants in Bertrams, a suburb near Johannesburg’s city centre, according to SAPS.
“The four people were kidnapped on the 10th of this month, in Musina, Limpopo province. Two Ethiopian nationals were arrested,” she pointed out.
Earlier this month, a 70-year-old Mozambican was arrested during a rescue operation of a kidnapped local businessman in the Lenasia neighbourhood, South African police announced.
According to the authorities, the victim was rescued from the Mozambican’s own home, in the municipality of Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, where a vast community of Indian origin resides.
South Africa, one of the most violent countries in the world, saw an increase in the number of kidnappings reported to the police in the last quarter of 2021, with 85 cases of people kidnapped for ransom, mostly in Gauteng, according to South African police.
Another mastermind arrested, R6 million in cash seized, victim rescued
Media Statement South African Police Service
2022/03/18
Pretoria: A Lenasia businessman has been safely reunited with his family, three days after he was kidnapped. Luqman Kazi, a 34-year-old businessman was kidnapped while on his way to work on Tuesday, 15 March 2022.
Following the kidnapping, a multidisciplinary team was assembled to rescue the victim and apprehend the kidnappers.
During a midnight take down operation on Thursday 17 March 2022, the team simultaneously pounced on four identified addresses. At the first address in Lawley, police found and rescued the victim, seized a 9mm unlicensed firearm and arrested three suspects.
At the other addresses in Lenasia, the team arrested three more suspects which include a 43-year-old Mozambican national believed to be the mastermind behind a number of kidnapping cases in Gauteng.
Police also found and seized R6 million in cash which is believed to be ransom paid on other kidnapping cases, an unlicensed AK47 rifle, ammunition, one hijacked motor vehicle, a VW polo that was utilised in the kidnapping of the businessman, military grade signal jammers as well as various vehicle registration number plates.
All six are facing charges of kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole has applauded the team’s persistent efforts.
“This success would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the dedication and persistent efforts of members from the Crime Intelligence National Kidnapping Task Team, the Special Task Force (STF), Organised Crime Unit, Gauteng Flying Squad and Gauteng Province Saturation Unit, EMPD, Visible Policing and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). We also appreciate the assistance by private security who continue to be our eyes and ears”.
In another unrelated kidnapping case, an intelligence driven operation led to the rescue of four Bangladesh nationals in Betrams, Gauteng. The four were kidnapped on Thursday, 10 March 2022 in Musina, Limpopo. Two Ethiopian nationals have since been arrested.
#sapsMP 35yr-old Suspect arrested for alleged rape of a 5yr-old girl on 15/03 at Ludlow Trust near Thulamahashe in Bushbuckridge. The arrested suspect is set to appear in Mhala Magistrate’s Court today. #EndGBV #ActAgainstAbuse MEhttps://t.co/Ki17LuCJdh pic.twitter.com/FuOt9gOyTi
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 18, 2022
Source: Lusa / SAPS
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.