Ndudi Anyim
A 47-year-old foreign national kidnapped by four armed men last Thursday morning, have been rescued with ten suspects arrested in Nyanga, Western Cape Province.
It was gathered that members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) with Bellville Detectives, the Hostage Negotiation Team and Crime Intelligence, pounced on a house in Nyanga and rescued the victim thereafter arrested the suspects last Saturday evening.
According to Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the special rescue operation came into effect as a response to a robbery and kidnapping case opened in Bellville.
“ Reports at the disposal of the Police indicates that the victim, a foreign national was accosted by four armed suspects on Voortrekker Road at 9:50a.m. on Thursday and a substantial amount of cash as well as a cellphone taken from him before he was taken away.
“ Vital information led the forces to an address in Nyanga where the victim was rescued. Ten suspects between the ages of 20 and 30 were subsequently arrested. The suspects have been charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. They are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ court. The victim has since been reunited with his family. ”
He said all Police officials involved in the operation have been praised by South African Police Service (SAPS) management as efforts to fight the scourge of kidnappings and extortion intensify.