The small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) sector in Johannesburg is still absorbing the news of a spike in ransom-related kidnappings involving a syndicate specifically targeting Portuguese business owners operating butcheries.
Since January last year, at least 20 Portuguese butchers or butchery entrepreneurs have been kidnapped, usually resulting in ransom demands running well into millions of rand.
One of the incidents resulted in a fatality.
In a positive twist to the spate of attacks on the Portuguese business community, one Bongani Dube (39), who supposedly is illegally residing in South Africa, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges of kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of the Immigration Act.
His arrest followed yet another Portuguese butchery kidnapping in Florida.
News365 reports that in the case against Dube, who didn’t make bail, Magistrate Marlini Nair said: “The State on conviction will be requesting life imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.”
It is understood that in the latest kidnapping, in which Dube was involved, a kidnapped butcher was taken to Snake Park in Soweto where he was held hostage while his abductors demanded R10 million for his safe return.
Eyewitness News reported that the community of Florida had rallied around the butcher.
“We saw it in the neighbourhood watch group and we’re really praying for him because he’s a human being. He’s a good guy for the community, we buy from him, he’s a good guy, he’s a businessman and employing people so why should they do that to him?”
SA Government News has since reported that “a 49-year-old Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped for ransom last month is the latest victim to be rescued by the police.
“In the last six months, 12 businessmen and six students who had been kidnapped for ransom have been rescued by a multidisciplinary team led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) anti-kidnapping task team.”
The Snake Park victim was kidnapped on June 24 but rescued on July 1.
“On the same evening, (task force) members also arrested one of his captors in Turffontein, Johannesburg,” a statement from the Office of the National Commissioner of the SAPS said.
“Demands for the safe release of the victims range between R400 000 and R3.5m, while in at least nine of these cases, ransom demands started from R10m,” SA Gov News reports.
“In cases where the businessmen and students had been rescued, no ransom payment was made as a direct result of the expertise and capabilities of SAPS detectives, the crime intelligence unit and collaboration with private security.
“To date, 49 kidnappers who had demanded ransom payment from families of victims have been arrested in Gauteng, the North West and Free State.
“In addition, 21 vehicles used in the commission of these crimes have been confiscated and eight firearms have also been seized.
“The SAPS is confident that working with all stakeholders and community tip-offs, it will continue to take down more syndicates believed to be behind a spate of kidnappings for ransom across the country.”
- This is a developing story in which Freight News has asked for comment from the South African Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, Butcher SA and community representative body, The Portuguese Forum.
