Cape Town – Cape Town police officer Constable Aphiwe Mondi, who was dismissed from the South African Police Service following his involvement in a kidnapping syndicate, is set to appear in court alongside other accused members.
Mondi, once a trusted member of law enforcement, is now facing serious charges, including kidnapping, extortion, and robbery, for his alleged role in multiple high-profile abductions, police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said.
The leader of the syndicate, Sivuyile “Lollo” Mki, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate Court on Friday, 13 September 2024, facing charges related to the kidnapping and murder of two Thai nationals in December 2022.
Mki, Mondi, and other suspects allegedly demanded R800,000 in ransom, though only R30,000 was paid. One of the hostages was later found dead in the Indloveni Informal Settlement, while the second was released.
Various other cases
Mondi and two other suspects were arrested on 28 December 2022.
Mondi’s involvement with the criminal network led to his dismissal from the police force. He and Mki are linked to various other cases, including the kidnapping of Chinese citizens in April 2023 and a South African woman in June 2023. The suspects demanded ransoms ranging from R4 million to hundreds of thousands of rands, though little ransom money was ever paid.
Mki, who has a history of criminal activity with multiple groups, faces several counts of kidnapping and extortion in various courts, including the Western Cape High Court and Khayelitsha Regional Court. Mondi will stand trial in the Western Cape High Court on 15 November 2024 alongside Mki and two other suspects. All accused remain in custody after bail was denied.
“All ex-police officials were still in the service when arrested and charged for the matters. This case is pending in the Khayelitsha priority court,” Van Wyk said.
The police have vowed to continue cracking down on such syndicates.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
