Kidnappers target immigrants in the Eastern Cape

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) is investigating 14 cases of immigrants kidnapped for ransom in the past few months in the Eastern Cape. The victims are usually owners of businesses such as hardware stores and spaza shops in small towns.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said most of the cases were in rural areas.

Its East London office is investigating cases of such kidnappings in Ngqamakhwe, Komani and Msobomvu (in Butterworth), three in Willowvale and one in Duncan Village, East London. The Mthatha office is investigating kidnappings in Tsomo, Cofimvaba, Port St Johns and Mthatha, plus another three in Ngcobo.

Mgolodela said the Hawks had arrested four suspects linked to one case and the matter is in court.

Originally from Pakistan, an Mthatha-based businessman in Slovo Park, tells a dramatic story: “It was on Sunday, 6 March, around 9am, when these guys came into the store, pulled out guns and took all the staff hostage.”

Six of his employees were South Africans.

The robbers took all the money in the till, then demanded the keys to his bakkie. They forced the two Pakistani employees to go with them. About two kilometres away, they transferred them to a waiting car.

The kidnappers called in the afternoon demanding a ransom of R10 million.

“We told them that we don’t have that amount of money and that those Pakistanis were just employees.

“The matter was already reported to the police by the time they called us and they advised us to inform them once we receive the call. The police also advised us not to make any settlement without their knowledge.

“So, we informed them and they continued to advise us until we reached a settlement amount.”

He would not to disclose what ransom was paid for the release of his two employees.

He said Pakistani immigrants are living in fear, wondering who will be the next.

Another Pakistani national, Basil (name changed), said he was kidnapped at his hardware store in a village 15km from Ngcobo on 3 April. Three men said they wanted to buy 1 000 bricks.

He was counting the bricks when one pulled a gun and ordered him to lie down. They blindfolded him and started ransacking the shop for money.

“When they were not happy with what they managed to get, they started demanding I take them to where I keep all my money.”

The kidnappers allegedly abducted him and held him for eight days, torturing him.

“They captured [their assaults] on video, which was then sent to other Pakistani nationals that are close to me, so that they can find the ransom money that is being asked,” he said, recovering in bed at a friend’s house.

He gave them the phone number of a friend, Ali (name changed) and they sent the video to him. GroundUp has seen the video.

The kidnappers initially demanded R5 million, but eventually settled for a fraction of that.

“I went to report the matter to the police at Ngcobo and the police could only assist in advising us on how we should negotiate.”

Basil said he was released and left at Mbhashe River bridge.

Ali knows of two other case in Ngcobo in the last three months.

“They kidnapped another businessman… They also kidnapped another Pakistani young man who was working in one of the shops and he was released… Both men have gone home to Pakistan.

“We are not making a lot of money. We are renting the premises where we operate our businesses and we also rent where we live. We are paying our staff and municipal bills for water and electricity, so people must not think we have plenty of money,” he said.

A Pakistani businessman said: “We are creating employment and contributing to the economy, and we are calling on the government to do more to protect us.”

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