Gauteng Businessman Rescued from Kidnappers, Nine Arrested Including a Police Officer

A 53-year-old Portuguese businessman, who was abducted outside his business premises in Bramley, Gauteng on Monday evening, has been successfully rescued and is back with his family. The National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team achieved this crucial breakthrough on Tuesday afternoon in in a house in Kempton Park, according to national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

Mathe confirmed the businessman was found "safe and unharmed", and the swift operation led to the arrest of nine suspects linked to this case, one of whom is a 41-year-old police officer. The officer was apprehended at his workplace while four men, and one woman at Kempton Park; two other men, and another woman were seized in Hillbrow.

This syndicate is allegedly involved in a spate of kidnappings, explicitly targeting Portuguese businessmen, demanding ransoms from the victim's families. Thankfully, in this case, no ransom payment was made when the police intervened and rescued the victim.

National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola expressed disappointment in the involvement of a police officer in these criminal acts. From April to date, the Kidnapping Task Team has apprehended seventy suspects in Gauteng alone in connection with kidnapping cases involving ransom demands.

The nine apprehended suspects are due to appear in court soon.