SAPS agrees to inter-governmental kidnapping task force in Cape Town
The South African Police Service (SAPS) agreed to partner with the City of Cape Town’s specialised law enforcement units to form an inter-governmental kidnapping and extortion task force.
On 15 September 2022, Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin
Hill-Lewis, called on Police Minister, Bheki Cele, and SAPS management, to establish
a multi-disciplinary operational task team focused on tackling kidnapping and
extortion activities in Cape Town.
Briefing the media in September, Cele revealed that more
than 30 kidnapping cases occurred in the Western Cape between March &
September 2022.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said
municipal law enforcement officers are ready to play “an active and operational
role in supporting the SAPS” to stop kidnappings and extortion attempts and
ensure that convictions follow arrests.
In a space of a week, the body of an 8-year-old’s boy was
discovered in Siqalo The family, who resides in Nyanga, identified the body,
after Lukhololwam Mkontwana was kidnapped on 23 September, by unknown suspects,
who demanded a ransom of R100 000 from the mother, who paid just R1 000 of the
money. Furthermore, a 35-year-old woman was abducted in Blue Downs on Thursday.
‘’The incidents this week remind us that we cannot afford
to rest on our laurels and that concrete and effective action is needed
immediately. The City calls on anyone with information to please report it to
SAPS or the City's 24-hour tip-off line on 0800 110077,’’ said Mayco Member for Safety and
Security, JP Smith.
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PICTURED - Wayne McKay: Done By: Mitchum George
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