A ZIMBABWEAN truck driver, aged 42, who became a victim of kidnapping in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has been rescued by police in Komatipoort.
“The truck driver from … Zimbabwe was kidnapped on Thursday 15 December 2022, at around 3am near Lebombo border in Komatipoort,” according to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
“According to the report, the victim was kidnapped by armed suspects under the railway bridge in Komatipoort as he returned to the truck he was driving after buying some food. “It is said that he was taken by his assailants at gunpoint into the bushes.
It is further indicated that the suspects demanded a ransom of R50 000 to be deposited by his (driver’s) employer.” Various military and law enforcement stakeholders, including the National Intervention Unit (NIU), South Africa National Defence Force, the South African Police Services Airwing, Crime Intelligence, hostage negotiators, the K9 Unit, detectives as well as the driver’s employer mobilised resources in order to ensure that the victim was brought back alive.
“These members work tirelessly and due to the rainy weather condition (on Thursday) the search had to be called off. The suspects contacted a colleague as well as the victim’s employer and further made some demands,” said Mohlala.
“Through collaboration that was made by the stakeholders, the victim was traced and found as well as the two suspects cornered and apprehended.”
During their arrest, an air-gun was found as well as four mobile phones were found in the kidnappers’ possession. “Further than that, a large sum of undisclosed amounts of cash was found in their possession. The members also found two knives in the possession of the two suspects,” said Mohlala. – IOL