A suspected kidnapper is expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Monday. (Google© Streetview, Google Maps, taken 2024)
- A suspected kidnapper has been arrested.
- The arrest follows the kidnapping of a family of four last month.
- The kidnappers demanded R400 000 ransom.
A man believed to have been behind the kidnapping of a Cape Town family has been taken into custody.
The 34-year-old man, who is believed to be a member of a syndicate that’s responsible for kidnappings in the Western Cape, was arrested on Thursday, said Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani.
The arrest came after a Cape Town family was kidnapped and rescued last month by the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team.
The family of four was travelling from Kuils River to Helderstroom Prison in Caledon, where the father works as a prison warden, said Hani.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle they were driving was later found abandoned in Endlovini, Khayelitsha.
“The kidnappers demanded a ransom of R100 000 per person, totalling R400 000, from the family’s brother. They instructed him to pay… and not to involve the police,” said Hani.
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The family was released the day after the kidnapping, near Philippi East.
“A police vehicle from Philippi East saw the hostages and gave them a lift to Kuils River Police Station.”
The suspected kidnapper will appear in Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Hani said more arrests were imminent.
