Five suspects, one of them a cop, and linked to a kidnapping syndicate will be spending Christmas and New Year behind bars.
Pakistani nationals Haseem Khalied, 27, Zizi Jahazab, 29, Taseen Yaqoob, 28, South African woman Ntombikhona Mgxekwa, 28, and local police reservist, Constable Melumzi Kekana, 35, all made an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday where they are facing a charge of kidnapping.
It’s alleged they snatched Bangladeshi businessman Mustapha Goolam, 38, outside his Food Town shop in Lotus River on December 4.
They were expected to apply for bail but the matter was postponed to January 13 instead.
The men appeared calm in the dock, but Mgxekwa burst into tears as she was led to the court’s holding cells.
They were all shipped off to Pollsmoor Prison.
Khalied, Jahazab and Mgxekwa were arrested at a house in Harare, Khayelitsha, 48 hours after Mustapha was taken.
He was found in a room – handcuffed, beaten and hungry – at the back of the house.
Mgxekwa allegedly allowed the suspects to keep Mustapha captive at her home.
His kidnappers demanded R10 million ransom.
The five are believed to be part of a larger kidnapping syndicate involving more than 12 people.
The syndicate is believed to target wealthy foreign businessmen in South Africa.
Yesterday, Hanif Loonat, the Cluster Chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain Community Policing Board, says the fact that the suspects will stay behind bars is a clear message that the wheels of justice are turning.
“I am glad they are spending Christmas inside prison as this will be a lesson for perpetrators that we have a zero tolerance for crime.”