FOLLOWING a spate of recent kidnappings in the area, the Hawks held an awareness campaign in Kariega on April 26, to educate people about kidnapping and extortion.
At the event, Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said that the campaign emanates from the fact that there are many cases of kidnapping and extortion taking place.
“We have heeded the call to the community to come closer and share the information that they have with us. We want to share with them, for instance, what is it that they must do when they are witnessing kidnapping. Even if you are not involved, what is it you as a member of the public or as an onlooker must do,” said Mgolodela.
With regard to extortion, she said it is commonly known as a protection fee.
“In other words, business people are being forced to pay in order to have their businesses protected, or free from being broken into. So, we call that extortion,” said Mgolodela.
“It is not only businesses that are targeted. Some people in the localities, villages, or in the townships, are being made to pay for the properties that they own.”
According to Mgolodela, one of the main reasons for the number of kidnappings happening is that it is an easy way of making money.
“Business people are known to have money. The fact that you are in business, you are believed to be having a lot of money,” said Mgolodela.
With regard to the payment of a demanded ransom, she said that the Hawks’ stance is that a ransom should not be paid.
“If we encourage the payment of ransoms, it means that we are perpetuating the crime. Our intention is non-payment of the ransom, but the families of victims are paying the ransoms. The moment their loved one is captured, they panic. When they report the matter to the police, we start engaging our negotiators, but the families go behind our back and pay the ransom. By doing that it really makes it easy for criminals to make money this way. We understand the panic. They fear for the life of the loved ones, but as far as we believe, ransom payment is going to escalate the crime,” said Mgolodela.
Regarding the release of the suspects arrested for a recent kidnapping, she said they were released pending further collection of evidence.
Mgolodela further urged people to be vigilant.
“Today we are talking about business people being targeted, but every person who has got a financial muscle is likely to be kidnapped,” said Mgolodela.
