A fourth 38-year-old suspect, linked to kidnapping incident that has occurred at Engcobo, has been apprehended by the Mthatha Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation working together with Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Umlazi Visible Policing on 20 February 2025.
His co-accused Ntsika Tyali (38), Mpumelelo Nyosi (41) and Akhona Unathi Deyi (51) has since been arrested in July 2024 and February 2025 respectively. The trio is currently in custody ever since their arrest.
It is alleged that on 06 June 2024, two victims were reportedly accosted by an unidentified armed suspects that reportedly barged into their residence at Engcobo. The suspects reportedly pointed the victims with firearms. The reports exposed that the victims were forced into an unknown vehicle, to unknown place and later on the day a ransom was demanded by the suspects.
During the said incident, the suspects apparently took the victim’s bank card and pin numbers where they probably withdrew cash in tranches, purchased expensive clothing from various retail shops. Further reports divulged that the victims suffered a loss of over R1.5 million. Due to the pressure exerted upon the suspects by the Hawks, the victims were released a couple of days later. The matter was referred to the Hawks for probing.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused ostensibly divided the cash among themselves. A depth investigation by the joint team led to the apprehension of the suspect at Umlazi in Durban where he was presumably hiding. Furthermore, a meticulous investigation positively linked the suspect with the aforesaid kidnapping incident.
The suspect is a prisoner in-transit where is expected to appear before Engcobo Magistrates Court on 24 February 2025.
