Tsolo: The tireless efforts of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) to bring kidnapping suspects to justice have led to the successful tracing and arrest of a 25-year-old suspect linked to a disturbing case of kidnapping and financial exploitation in Tsolo.

According to South African Police Service, the incident occurred on 03 November 2023, when a male victim, having just received a Road Accident Fund (RAF) pay-out amounting to R300 000, was approached by two unknown men in Tsolo Location. The suspects allegedly posed as RAF-affiliated doctors offering medical assistance. Under this false pretence, the victim was reportedly kidnapped and transported over 800 kilometres to Klerksdorp in the North West province.

While held against his will, the victim’s bank account was allegedly drained, with funds transferred to accounts linked to the suspects. The victim was later located and safely reunited with his family.

A breakthrough came when the Hawks’ Eastern Cape-based Kidnapping Task Team, working in collaboration with their North West counterparts, traced one of the suspects to Klerksdorp. The 25-year-old was apprehended and is currently being transported to the Eastern Cape, where he is expected to appear before the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 May 2025.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the team for their dedication and inter-provincial collaboration. He further stated, “This arrest marks the beginning of a wider crackdown, with more arrests expected as investigations unfold.”