Cape Town - Akter Pradhan became the fourth Bangladeshi business owner to be abducted in as many weeks in Mitchells Plain, according to refugee activist Hafiz Mohammed.
Police confirmed they were investigating yet another kidnapping and extortion case in the province, this time of Pradhan, the owner of a Cash and Carry.
It is alleged the 37-year-old was driving on Wespoort Road in Mitchells Plain on Friday when three armed men stopped his vehicle and forced him into their own before fleeing the scene.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the suspects were yet to be arrested.
“The unknown suspects are yet to be arrested. We can confirm that no shots were fired. Mitchells Plain police are investigating a case of kidnapping and extortion,” he said.
Mohammed said the father of two was headed home when the incident occurred.
“I am told they tried to hold him up at gunpoint him and after that kidnapped him. This was after his shop closed, he was leaving the shop.
“In the last 30 days, four kidnappings happened in Mitchells Plain, all four kidnappings are Bangladeshi citizens. Our people opened a case against these kidnappers, but police do nothing. We condemn this kind of crime and we are asking the police to do their jobs and the South African government to raise their voices against this kind of crime happening to foreign nationals every day in South Africa,” he said.
Police urged Mohammed to register a criminal case for the allegations to be investigated.
Mitchells Plain councillor Ashley Potts said residents were living in fear.
“The Bangladeshi businessman was another kidnapping that occurred here in Mitchells Plain community. The challenge we are facing is that people are being kidnapped in parking lots. We had another incident on Thursday where a coloured male was kidnapped in the parking lot by four gunmen. They later released him but not after assaulting him. The residents are in uproar about this since their lives are not being protected. The challenge is the lack of support. What is happening has put fear into people’s lives,” he said.
Mitchells Plain CPF chairperson Norman Jantjies called for the police to increase visibility in their community.
“The police are following up very strong leads, they are positive that they will make an arrest soon. There seems to be an increase in carjackings and hijackings. We are asking the community to be alert and if they see anything unusual to report it to the police. We are also asking the community to avoid high-risk areas. We also appeal to the police to increase visibility and the City of Cape Town to increase the use of CCTV cameras,” he said.
Cape Flats Safety Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs said the increase of kidnappings in the Western Cape and particularly Cape Town was a concern.
“We call on all law enforcement agencies to step up their game and curb these types of crimes. We further call for the establishment of a special unit that would be able to react and track down these criminals.”
The increase in kidnapping of business persons and/or their relatives by crime syndicates for ransom was among issues raised with Police Minister Bheki Cele at the National Council of Provinces last week.
This was after six-year-old Shanawaaz Asghar, who was kidnapped on his way to school in Kensington, was reunited with his family.
Cele said multi-disciplinary task teams have been established in all nine provinces to arrest the perpetrators.
“Cases that are received by SAPS are investigated by detective service’s organised crime investigation capability, in the respective provinces. When an incident is reported, the Joint Operational Centre (JOC) activates all stakeholders to ensure the prompt conducting of preliminary investigations. Leads are followed up pertaining to the identification of possible suspects with the aim to track, trace and arrest the suspects and to locate the victims,” Cele said.
Freedom Front Plus caucus leader and city councillor Lennit Max said information at his disposal is that the unit investigating these crimes is “seriously understaffed”.
“The lack of arrest and convictions of the culprits serves as motivation for these crimes. The fact that families at times refuse to work with the police indicates distrust in the police's ability to ensure the safe return of their loved one's. The payment of ransom monies by families of the abducted make these crimes a lucrative business. The culprits get easy money,” he said.
Cape Times