Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber VP Kidnapped in Early Morning Ambush

In a disturbing start to the day in Gqeberha, South Africa, the Vice President of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMB), Kelvin Naidoo, became the victim of a harrowing kidnapping. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, catching both Naidoo and the local community off guard.

At approximately 6 am, while Naidoo was stopping at his workplace in the Korsten area, a Nissan NP200, starkly recognizable due to its lack of number plates, collided into his vehicle. This calculated manoeuvre was designed to force the unsuspecting Naidoo to halt. Moments later, chaos ensued as a secondary vehicle arrived at the scene, and five masked suspects emerged. Without hesitation, they forcibly extracted Naidoo from his Mercedes Benz and pushed him into another car.

Police Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed the alarming series of events and noted the Nissan NP200's prior hijacking in Motherwell, hinting at a premeditated criminal operation. Despite the intense circumstances surrounding his abduction, the motive behind Naidoo's kidnapping remains a mystery, prompting a thorough ongoing investigation by local authorities.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber promptly voiced their shock and despair over the incident, revealing Naidoo as not only a crucial figure within the Chamber but also as a generous contributor to the local economy and community initiatives. Denise van Huyssteen, the CEO of the Chamber, called for swift action, urging national, provincial, and local law enforcement agencies to implement proactive measures and enhance visible policing to forestall such crimes.

The police, along with the NMB Business Chamber, are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact the Algoa Park Saps in hopes of facilitating a quick and safe return for Naidoo to his family and community.