A businessman who was kidnapped during a robbery from a superette in Brantwood, Kuils River on Wednesday has been rescued.
Police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa says concerted efforts by the provincial multi-disciplinary anti-kidnapping task team led to the man’s rescue and the arrest of 11 suspects over the weekend.
Kuils River police spokesperson, WO Liesel Beukes said earlier a minibus with a trailer pulled up in front of the store, Digtebij Superette, around 12:50 on Wednesday 26 July.
After an employee at the door was threatened with a firearm twenty men entered the store. Cash, cigarettes, and Oka pipes were taken as well as cellphones of customers. Everyone inside the store were locked in a walk-in freezer before the group of men drove off with the victim.
A nearby resident who often visits the Digtebij Superette told TygerBurger the kidnapped man is a foreign national who would normally be the one standing behind the shop counter.
Multi-disciplinary team
Potelwa says the multi-disciplinary team sprang into action as soon as the kidnapping was reported. “All available leads were followed up which led to the arrest of ten suspects.”
Further investigation led the police to an address in Tamarisk Street, Delft, where they found the 34-year-old man, rescued him, and arrested another suspect.
Eleven suspects aged between 22 and 43 years will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ court on Monday on charges of business robbery and kidnapping for ransom, Potelwa says.
Hawks investigators, special task force members, provincial organised crime detectives, hostage negotiators, crime intelligence and the City of Cape Town were involved in the investigation. Potelwa says the provincial police management commend the team’s efforts gaining momentum in dealing with kidnappings.
