Search for new car ends in tragedy

THE Hawks have made a breakthrough in their investigation into the kidnapping of a local man who was last seen on his way to view a car he was interested in buying in Bellville before his body was discovered in a shallow grave.

Four suspects aged between 29 and 42 were arrested on charges of kidnapping, extortion and murder on Saturday during a multi-disciplinary intelligence-led operation consisting of the Hawks, Provincial Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Hostage Negotiation.

The man was allegedly kidnapped in Kraaifontein on May 16.

He was last seen by a friend who reported he went to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to purchase and never came back, said Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi.

“Instead another friend of the victim received a call from the victim reporting that he had been kidnapped and being assaulted. Simultaneously, a ransom of R100 000 for the victim’s release was demanded by the suspects. Further phone calls were made by the suspects whereby the ransom was reduced to R10 000.”

Vukubi said the suspects subsequently provided a bank account where the money should be deposited into. An amount of R5000 was allegedly deposited to that bank account, but the suspects continued to demand the balance.

The investigators, upon following up all leads on Saturday, were taken to two addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei, resulting in the arrest of the suspects.

“Further probe led the team to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi beach and Macassar, where one of the suspects pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was killed and buried,” said Vukubi.

While the suspects are expected to appear in the Kuilsriver Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Hawks' provincial Head Mathipa Makgato hailed the team for their precise and resilient investigation into this, saying that SAPS will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to book.

Meanwhile police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said police were making a dent in crime, in particular in areas such as Khayelitsha.

“In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these crime-reduction operations, the vast Khayelitsha Township with its four police stations namely, Makhaza, Lingelethu West, Harare and Khayelitsha Site B, has made inroads in crime reduction. Although we are not out of the woods yet, the current downward trajectory in the township is acknowledged. For that we thank all the integrated forces who contributed to the current picture.”

She said constant engagement with communities, efficient and effective neighbourhood watch system, early morning patrols targeting commuter routes to train stations, bus stops and taxi pick-up points and ‘super’ Friday patrols with neighbourhood watch members were among the interventions behind Khayelitsha’s encouraging crime picture.

She said there were targeted arrests of Boko Haram splinter groups members who were constantly fighting over territory resulting in multiple murders.

“Feuds between rival groups on the gang front in Mitchell’s Plain, Bishop Lavis, Delft, Mfuleni and other identified precincts on the Cape Flats, are still a concern for the management of the SAPS in the Western Cape.

"At the heart of the murders, attempted murders and other aggravated crimes, are illegal firearms which we are targeting through various operational interventions. With the Cooperation Agreement between SAPS and the City of Cape Town gaining momentum, on the ground the integrated forces work hand in glove resulting in an improved crime picture…

“On the intelligence front, there is still room for improvement. The majority of successful operations executed thus far were intelligence-led. A call is still being made for communities to play an active role in legitimate crime fighting efforts within their respective precincts. The SAPS management in the Province believes that someone somewhere somehow knows something.”

Anyone with information about crime can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860010111.

Cape Times