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.
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.
