Johannesburg – Police in Gauteng have rescued two kidnapped businessmen, and arrested seven suspects.
Police seized firearms, cellphones, and vehicles used in the commission of crimes.
Narrating events leading to the arrests, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said: “On Saturday, (7 December 2024), a Chinese businessman was hijacked and kidnapped in Springs, Ekurhuleni by a group of suspects”.
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk added: “Within 24 hours, a multi-disciplinary team operationalised intelligence which led them to the location of the kidnappers.
“The team intercepted the kidnappers’ vehicle, an Audi A3, at an intersection in Lenasia and arrested two suspects on Sunday, (8 December 2024).
“The team then proceeded to an address in Meriting where they arrested one more kidnapper and rescued the businessman.”
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk said in an unrelated incident, on 1 December 2024, another businessman was hijacked and kidnapped by a group of suspects in Wierdabrug.
“The victim’s vehicle was later recovered in the area of Heuweloord,” She said.
“[An] Intelligence [unit] led a multi-disciplinary team to recover the kidnappers’ vehicle, a Jeep, which was left abandoned in a garage in Nellmapius, Tshwane.”
Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk said the team followed up on a lead that led them to an address in Mamelodi, Tshwane, where they arrested four suspects and rescued two kidnapped victims.
“Firearms, cellphones, a Jeep SRT8, and a Hyundai Getz were seized,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk.
“Investigations in both these cases are still ongoing.
“These operations would not have been successful without the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, including private security.”
