Five people arrested and another kidnapped businessman rescued in Johannesburg

Police have arrested a person in connection with the kidnapping of a businessman in Johannesburg. (SAPS/Facebook)

Another kidnapped businessman was rescued in Johannesburg.
This is the second person rescued this week and the thirteenth since the beginning of the year.
Five people were arrested.

A Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped last week in Johannesburg’s South Gate has been reunited with his family in the second rescue operation by police this week.

According to police spokesman Brigadier General Athlenda Mathe, the butcher shop owner was found on Thursday evening at Nancefield Hostel in Soweto.

“An intelligence-led operation by the South African Police Service’s Special Task Force (STF) unit has led to the release of a Portuguese businessman from the Nancefield Hostel in Soweto where he was being held,” she said.

“The man was kidnapped for ransom. No payment was made as a direct result of the quick response from the police. As soon as the matter was reported to the SAPS, a team was called in and worked around the clock to find the victim alive,” Mathe added.

Two people were also arrested on Thursday, believed to be drivers of the vehicles used in the kidnapping.

READ | Another kidnapped businessman rescued by Joburg police

Additionally, one person was detained in the hostel.

After police followed up on the information and visited a house in White City, Soweto, two more people were arrested. They were reportedly found with the businessman’s bank cards and wallet.

This comes after the 49-year-old businessman, also Portuguese, was rescued from his home in Soweto on Monday after being kidnapped on Friday.

Police arrested one of the alleged kidnappers in Turffontein.

The individual is believed to be part of a syndicate responsible for at least four other kidnappings of businessmen in Johannesburg.

General Fannie Masemola, national police commissioner, praised officers for their work to locate the victims.

He said:

Our dedicated teams relentlessly strive to save victims.

He added that since January, 13 businessmen and at least six students have been rescued without having to pay ransom.

In addition, according to the commissioner, “more than 200 kidnappers have been arrested” in the past two years.

“In six months, more than 54 kidnappers operating in Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and the Free State have been arrested.”