[imagesource:here]

Over the past few years, there have been a number of high-profile kidnappings in the Western Cape, with prominent businessmen taken and sizeable ransoms demanded.

The problem is not unique to the province, with SAPS saying earlier this year “that the police were overwhelmed by kidnappings for ransom,” with some local and international abduction syndicates raking in excess of R1 billion during 2019.

National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo confirmed that police officers had been arrested “for colluding with kidnappers”.

Despite this, it seems to business as usual, with another high-profile kidnapping occurring in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Laudium businessman Sikander Kalla has been kidnapped, reports IOL, with Kalla’s driver,  Imtiaz “DK” Suleman, shot four times and killed during the abduction:

The pair were travelling in a silver grey vehicle when they were accosted by unknown suspects, who shot the driver, Suleman, and left his body slumped behind the wheel as they fled with Kalla.

Image: IOL

“A ransom demand of R180 million has since been made for his safe return,” said a member of the Laudium business community, asking for anonymity for fear of being victimised.

Kalla’s kidnapping comes a week after the owner of Central Supa Savers in Ravensmead, Cape Town, was abducted during a robbery at the store.

He was held captive for several days, with police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirming that his family paid a ransom fee on November 29 in order to secure his safe return.

An updated report from IOL earlier this morning states that SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters could not confirm that Kalla had been kidnapped or that Suleman had been killed, despite the fact that Suleman was buried earlier this week.

Anti-crime and community activist Yusuf Abramjee, who is a resident of Laudium, said the families of the two men were not yet ready to discuss the incident.

[sources:iol&iol]