Crime in SA | Suspect to appear in court for kidnapping

Angie Motshekga
Global outlook 
Thembi Simelane
Gospel artist Keke Phoofolo
Sensitivity readers are fair game in children’s fiction, argue some authors — but adults have the option to put a book down if it offends them. Getty Images via AFP/Brandon Bell
Avbob Investment Plan
CAPE TOWN – A suspect, believed to be a member of a syndicate responsible for yet another kidnapping in the Western Cape, will appear in court on Monday.
WATCH | Kidnapping suspect appears in court on Monday
The 34-year-old is alleged to have taken part in the kidnapping of a family of 4, two weeks ago.
Police say the family left Kuilsriver for Helderstroom Prison in Caledon, where the father works as a prison warder.
They were intercepted on the Franschoek pass and taken to Philippi, were they were held.The vehicle in which the family of four was travelling, was found abandoned in Khayelitsha. 
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of R400,000 rand from a family member, and warned against involving the police. 
Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi said, “Based on the information that was done by the multi-disciplinary Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, consisting of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Provincial Organised Crime, Hostage Negotiation Team and Crime Intelligence, where they were kept there was a transfer of funds from their bank accounts to the suspects and they also phoned the relatives demanding a ransom of R100,000 for each victim.”
The family’s location was traced and anti-kidnapping task team then jumped into action.
Vukubi said, “After that the victims were released after a shoot out with police and the suspects they were released at Philippi East where they were rescued.”
A suspect was arrested on 5 September and is linked to at least one other kidnapping case.
Vukubi said, “So he is his appearing on the Villersdorp case and Franschoek case and he was linked in terms of the vehicle he used in the commission of this crime as well as the identity parade that was conducted by the detectives .”
While only one suspect is due to appear in the Paarl Magistrate Court on Monday, more arrests are expected.