Cape Town – Police in Mpumalanga said on Saturday that they had rescued a kidnapped Pakistani national.
This followed a tip-off regarding a kidnapping that was reported at Johannesburg Central Police Station involving a human trafficker based in Mpumalanga in Malelane and Valencia.
In a statement, police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said that the information further indicated that two Pakistani nationals were trafficked to South Africa via Malawi to Mozambique. Upon arrival in South Africa the trafficker held them hostage.
ALSO READ | WATCH | EFF to assess how many South Africans the hospitality industry employs, says Julius Malema
“The family of one of the victims paid an undisclosed amount of money for his release.
“The second victim’s family was communicating with the kidnappers and reported the case to the SAPS in Johannesburg Central Police Station. Information was followed up and the kidnapper was spotted near Valencia,” Mohlala said.
#sapsMP The Police in Mpumalanga rescued kidnapped Pakistanian national. Trafficker is still at large however his identity is known to the police as a businessman in the Schoemansdal area. TMhttps://t.co/pTvx9QlMcq pic.twitter.com/RBCqaYzEHn
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) January 15, 2022
He said that a safe house where the victims were held “was identified and led to the arrest of an undocumented Pakistani national who was identified by one of the victims as the safe house keeper, responsible to allow them to communicate with their families”.
The trafficker was still at large. However, his identity was known to the police as a businessman in the Schoemansdal area, said Mohlala.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
