The deputy president of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party was found safe after he was reportedly kidnapped and held for ransom in Cape Town.
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According to a UDM statement, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa was on his way to the Cape Town International Airport to attend the Presidential inauguration when the incident occurred.
A ransom of R10 000 was demanded for his safe return.
‘The UDM paid the ransom, and Mr Kwankwa was safely released, albeit shaken and traumatised. All his belongings, including his vehicle, were stolen,’ the statement said.
His vehicle was later found abandoned.
‘The UDM is saddened by this horrific event but is very grateful for his safe return. We wish Tshawe well on his road to recovery from this dastardly incident.’
The Daily Voice reports that the 44-year-old was at a barbershop in Driftsands and his vehicle parked at Old Faure Road when a suspect led him to his car, tied his hands and put him in the boot of the vehicle.
UDM president Bantu Holomisa says he called Kwankwa’s cellphone after his secretary general informed him of the incident.
‘And I called his phone and the kidnappers answered, I spoke to him too and he told me that the suspects were demanding R10 000. They told me to hurry up otherwise I was going to find him at the mortuary.
‘We then paid the money. Apparently, they went to take money out of his account first.
‘When they took him they shoved him in the boot and drove around with him to take out money and thereafter they drove him to a bush where he saw an abandoned railway line.
‘They took him out of the boot and pointed a gun at him and that is when they said the money was not enough and they wanted more,’ he reportedly told Daily Voice.
Holomisa doubts that the kidnapping was politically motivated. ‘I don’t think this is related to politics, Kwankwa is not a threat to anyone. I think this might just be a criminal element.
‘We are relieved that UDM Deputy President Nqabayomzi Kwankwa is safe after being kidnapped and robbed. We wish him well in recovering from this ordeal.’
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed the provincial multidisciplinary team is investigating the alleged hijacking and kidnapping of a politician.
‘Western Cape Anti kidnapping multidisciplinary task team comprising organised crime and DPCI investigators as well as crime intelligence is currently piecing together details following an incident where a 44-year-old man was allegedly hijacked, kidnapped and robbed by armed suspects in Driftsands, Mfuleni on Tuesday afternoon.
‘Allegedly after the ordeal, the victim was dropped off in Lingelethu West, Khayelitsha where he made his way to a police station in the area to report the crime. His vehicle has since been recovered in the Khayelitsha area. The investigation continues and no arrests have been made as yet.’
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Picture: Beeld / Nasief Manie / Gallo Images