On Friday last week, the daughter of the owner of the furniture chain store, Decofurn, was reportedly kidnapped outside the Killarney Gardens store in Montague Gardens.
It is believed that she has subsequently been released on Wednesday morning following a ransom demand of R25 million, as reported by IOL.
Not much information is available regarding her condition and the definitive amount paid if any. Due to the sensitive nature and time of the investigation, the police would neither confirm nor deny the woman’s return.
Police Spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, however, has confirmed that “the matter is under investigation by Organised Crime, Western Cape.”
This latest abduction case follows shortly after the alleged kidnapping of Shireen Essop in May which had the entire nation panicked and sympathising with the family as she was missing for nearly a month.
Also read: Man linked to the alleged kidnapping of Shireen Essop arrested
Just a few weeks prior to this kidnapping case, Ismail Rajah, owner of the prominent Good Hope Construction company was rescued by police, after he was abducted outside his business premises in Parow Valley in March this year.
He was kept hostage and tortured for 111 days at a house in Robert Sobukwe Street in Khayelitsha.
Five people have since been arrested, one of them – Elijah Silinga – was granted bail despite being directly identified by Rajah as one of the kidnappers.
Also read: 69-year-old businessman rescued after 111 days captive
In January, a Bangladeshi shopkeeper was kidnapped from his store in Bishop Lavis. He was found thanks to a police operation and two people were subsequently arrested. These are some of many instances in the Western Cape this year, with other victims being held for ransom.
The string of high-profile abduction cases ravaging through the business-owner sector has politicians and communities saying that kidnappings in the province have become a top concern.
According to IOL, Imraahn Mukaddam, coordinator of the United Public Safety Front, said that Cape Town is turning into the new kidnapping capital of the world, like Mexico where kidnapping cartels are rampant.
“These days, it’s easier to steal a person than to steal a car, at least a car has a tracker.
We would like to warn high profile business people to bring security measures to their families.” says Mukaddam.
As in a separate IOL article, Ahmed Shaik-Emam, the parliamentary leader of the National Freedom Party (NFP) stated “The NFP calls on Police Minister Bheki Cele to prioritise kidnapping through a co-ordinated national plan, as this lucrative crime has been steadily increasing over the last few years.”
Seems like the kidnapping syndicate has now reached Cape Town.
May Allah keep us all safe, Ameen.
— U z a i r (عزير) (@UzairEssack) May 28, 2022
Also read:
Mother, baby and nanny kidnapped, robbed and told to never look back
Picture: @SAPoliceService / Twitter