‘Kidnapped’ father and son arrested with unlicensed AK-47

A FATHER and his son who were allegedly kidnapped and tortured by three taxi operators in EmaXesibeni on New Year’s Day have been arrested along with their alleged tormentors after being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Police spokeswoman Captain Edith Mjoko said the father, 58, and son, 35, from Chithwa village were in an altercation with the taxi drivers.

An unlicensed AK-47 which had allegedly been given to them by the taxi operators for safekeeping, was believed to have been at the crux of their kidnapping, Mjoko told the Daily Dispatch yesterday.

She said the problem started when the taxi operators went to collect the firearm but the father and son denied knowledge of its whereabouts.

“They were then kidnapped and tortured,” said the spokeswoman. “This angered the residents of the village and police were called in to try and diffuse the situation.”

Mjoko said the son had told police where they had hidden the weapon in their home.

The assault rifle had four live rounds and has been taken for ballistic tests to establish if it has been used in other crimes in the area.

“Both father and son were arrested, together with the three taxi operators, on Monday,” said Mjoko.

The three taxi operators – aged 42, 45 and 38 – were charged with kidnapping and assault, while the man and his son face charges of possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition.

They are due in the Mount Ayliff Magistrate’s Court today.

● A man was arrested with dagga worth about R3 000 during a stopandoperation in KwaBhaca on Saturday.

Mjoko said the man, 41, was bust after police received a tip-off that there was someone carrying dagga in town.

He has been charged with unlawful possession of dagga and appeared in the Mount Frere Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

● Mthatha police are investigating a murder docket after the body of a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.

The incident took place in Mdlekeza Park in Ngangelizwe township in Mthatha less than two hours into New Year’s Day.

Police spokeswoman Captain Dineo Koena said the body had been discovered by a family member who went outside after hearing several shots fired. No arrests have been made. ● A man, 27, appeared in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with stabbing to death a 26year-old man following a quarrel inside a tavern in Tsolo on Monday. —