
Johannesburg – Gauteng police have rescued two kidnapped businessmen and have arrested seven suspects.
Authorities seized firearms, mobile phones, and vehicles involved in the criminal activities.
Explaining the events that led to the arrests, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said: “On Saturday, (7 December 2024), a Chinese businessman was hijacked and taken in Springs, Ekurhuleni by a group of individuals.”
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk added: “Within 24 hours, a multi-disciplinary team followed intelligence that guided them to the kidnappers’ whereabouts.”
“The team intercepted the abductors’ vehicle, an Audi A3, at an intersection in Lenasia and arrested two suspects on Sunday, (8 December 2024).
“Following this, the team moved to an address in Meriting where they arrested one more kidnapper and rescued the businessman.”
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk noted that in a different incident on 1 December 2024, another businessman was hijacked and kidnapped in Wierdabrug by a group of suspects.
“The victim’s vehicle was later found in the Heuweloord area,” she mentioned.
“An intelligence unit led a multi-disciplinary team to recover the kidnappers’ vehicle, a Jeep, which had been abandoned in a garage in Nellmapius, Tshwane.”
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk explained that the team followed a lead to an address in Mamelodi, Tshwane, where they arrested four additional suspects and rescued two kidnapped victims.
“Firearms, mobile phones, a Jeep SRT8, and a Hyundai Getz were confiscated,” Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk stated.
“Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
“These operations would not have been possible without the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies and private security.”
