The Hawks have arrested a 59-year-old Eastern Cape man in connection with the April kidnapping of a foreign national business owner. ( Felix Dlangamandla / Gallo Images)
- An Eastern Cape man has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a foreign national who owns a business in Gqeberha.
- The business owner was held for six days.
- The man may be linked to a second kidnapping case, according to the Hawks.
A 59-year-old Eastern Cape man was arrested on Sunday in connection with the April kidnapping of a foreign national who owns a business in North End, Gqeberha.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the 31-year-old business owner was accosted and kidnapped at his business on 5 April.
“[At] the time, the victim was reportedly alone inside the business,” Mhlakuvana said.
At gunpoint, he was forced into an Opel Mokka.
“Further allegations revealed that the suspects used the victim’s cellphone and called his mother demanding a ransom,” Mhlakuvana added.
The business owner was found in Kariega after six days, according to Mhlakuvana.
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Late on Sunday afternoon, the alleged kidnapper was spotted in a VW Tiguan in Fort Beaufort.
“The suspect was pulled over 3km away from Fort Beaufort where the suspect is reported to have jumped out of the car in an attempt to evade his arrest. He allegedly ran into the nearby bushes where he was later caught and apprehended. Beside him in the car was his wife and two other family members,” said Mhlakuvana.
“An intelligence-driven investigation by the joint team revealed that the victim was kept in three different addresses in Gqeberha,” Mhlakuvana said. A man identified as Mzoxolo Eric Grwayibana was arrested at one of the addresses and he has already appeared in court.
He is out on R3 000 bail.
The 59-year-old man who was arrested on Sunday will join Grwayibana in court soon.
The man who was arrested over the weekend may also be linked to a second kidnapping case that dates back to March, in which a 34-year-old woman was kidnapped in Kariega in front of her house. She was released unharmed two days later, according to police.
More arrests in connection with the business owner’s kidnapping are imminent, according to the Hawks.