Two more men were arrested this morning (7 October) on charges of murder following the kidnapping of a Kraaifontein man earlier this year.
A multi-disciplinary, intelligence-led operation comprising the Hawks, a provincial combat team, and a specialised unit of the City of Cape Town resulted in the arrest of the suspects, aged 33 and 37.
Their arrest follows after the victim was allegedly kidnapped in Kraaifontein on 16 May. The victim was last seen by a friend, who reported that the victim went to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to purchase and never came back. “Instead, another friend of the victim received a call from the victim reporting that he had been kidnapped and was being assaulted,” says Hawks spokesperson W/O Zinzi Hani.
Simultaneously, a ransom of R100 000 for the victim’s release was demanded by the suspects. Further phone calls were made by the suspects, during which the ransom was reduced to R10 000.
“The suspects subsequently provided a bank account where the money should be deposited. It was alleged that an amount of R5 000 was deposited into that bank account, and the suspects continued to demand the balance. On 17 May, the team followed all the leads that led them to addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei, which resulted in the arrest of Mogamat Samuels (33), who has already made a court appearance. The team was led to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi Beach and Macassar, where one of the accused pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was killed and buried,” says Hani.
“Upon further probe, it transpired that the City of Cape Town law enforcement vehicle, which was driven by a law enforcement officer, Thandile Khesa, was utilised in the commission of this heinous crime.”
Khesa also appeared in court, and his next court date is 29 October, alongside Samuels. Both Samuels and Khesa remain in custody.
The two other suspects will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, 8 October, for their first court appearance.
