Kidnapped Indian businessman rescued in Alexandra
Police in Gauteng have rescued a kidnapped Indian businessman in Alexandra in the north of Johannesburg in the early hours of Thursday morning, following yesterday’s shootout on the East Rand.
A suspected Mozambican kidnapping kingpin was killed during the shooting with police near the R21 in Kempton Park.
The businessman, who was abducted in July, was found alive in a shack shortly after midnight on Thursday.
His rescue followed a high-stakes confrontation on Wednesday evening along the R21, where the alleged mastermind — known by the alias “Dollarman” — was killed after opening fire on officers.
Police say “Dollarman” was a notorious cross-border kidnapper, wanted in Mozambique and listed on SERNIC’s wanted persons database for multiple ransom kidnappings.
In South Africa, he was linked to at least five kidnapping-for-ransom cases, as well as housebreaking, carjacking, and possession of unlicensed firearms.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed his death marked a major breakthrough in the fight against organised kidnapping syndicates.
"The suspect was a known kingpin on both sides of the border. His neutralisation will send a strong message to these syndicates that the SAPS is relentless in its pursuit of criminals who terrorise our communities."
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