[imagesource: News24 Screengrab]
Ismail Rajah, the 69-year-old CEO and founder of Good Hope Construction in Parow, was snatched from his office in March by a gang of men wielding AK-47s.
The kidnappers stuffed Rajah into an Audi Q7 and drove off, after which he was not seen for what can only have been a torturous 111 days.
Finally, just after midnight on Tuesday, Rajah was found alive in a house in Khayelitsha, rescued by an intelligence-driven operation.
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee shared these images:
More arrests are expected. It is believed a gang with trans- national links may be behind Rajah’s kidnapping. https://t.co/Mhf3MMpZzF pic.twitter.com/dRAovBUUtI
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) June 29, 2022
Two Mozambican nationals and two South Africans, between the ages of 30 and 38, are behind bars for the crime.
Police are still trying to figure out if these four suspects are part of a syndicate linked to similar kidnappings in the Western Cape, per IOL.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the group was expected to make an appearance in [the Parow] court tomorrow [Thursday] on charges relating to the kidnapping…
“Following his kidnapping, a ransom demand was made to his family. It is reported that the family were already en route to Dubai to expedite the ransom payment when the SAPS National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team was roped in to investigate.
“Police have confiscated cellphones and various equipment on suspicion of having been utilized by the suspects during the commission of the crime. The SAPS is urging members of the public to immediately report kidnappings so as to enable police to investigate, effect arrests and rescue victims. “
The family can finally sleep easily again knowing that their loved one is home safe.
If you’re worried about being kidnapped, heed the advice of eNCA’s Barry Bateman on how best to react.
