The arrested suspects.
Image: Supplied
The son of a Gauteng businessman who was kidnapped on March 18, 2025, has been rescued by police.
The 20-year-old student was revealed to be the son of Yasin Bhiku, a businessman from Lenasia who was also kidnapped in January 2022.
Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed the incident.
According to reports, law enforcement agencies responded to the scene where the kidnapping took place and conducted interviews and reviewed the CCTV footage from the immediate and surrounding areas.
The victim was held in Elandsfontein.
Image: Supplied
It was revealed that a white Volkswagen Amarok was involved in the kidnapping.
“After a case of kidnapping was reported on March 18, 2025, a student was kidnapped, and a white Volkswagen Amarok was identified as the vehicle used in the crime. Further investigation revealed that the same vehicle was linked to an attempted kidnapping on March 1, 2025,” Masondo said.
On Wednesday, March 26, officers located and recovered the white Volkswagen Amarok in a residential parking area in Sandton.
The vehicle seized by police.
Image: Supplied
Scouring through the footage, it was confirmed that the suspects had parked the vehicle at the location. The team proceeded to the suspects' home in Lenasia, where the identified suspect was arrested.
He complied with the law enforcement officers and pointed out the house where the kidnapped victim was being held.
Officers raced to a house in Elandsfontein, south of Johannesburg, where they arrested another two suspects.
Officers were further directed to another suspect who was later arrested in Lenasia.
“Through meticulous investigation and intelligence gathering, the team identified the suspects and located the vehicle in a residential parking area in Sandton. Surveillance footage confirmed the suspect's involvement, leading to the arrest of other suspects in Elandsfontein and Lenasia.
“The recovered VW Amarok was linked to a hijacking reported in Durban Central, KwaZulu-Natal in January 2025. The victim has been reunited with his family and is receiving medical attention,” Masondo said.
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
The latest data has shown that there have been almost 5,000 kidnappings in the space if three months in South Africa.
National Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has acknowledged that the situation is escalating into a major problem.
According to the most recent crime statistics, covering October to December 2024, Gauteng recorded the highest number of kidnappings, 2,499 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, 901, and the Western Cape, 275.
The Eastern Cape, where several high-profile abductions have occurred, reported 205 cases.
The Northern Cape recorded the lowest number of kidnappings in the country, with 43 cases.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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