Durban - Investigators have spent hours poring over video footage captured by neighbourhood surveillance cameras to track the vehicle that drove Kloof businessman Bruce Galloway from his home on Tuesday.
Galloway was apparently kidnapped from his Intengu Avenue home at 3.30am.
By mid-afternoon on Wednesday, two vehicles travelling in the area around the time of Galloway’s disappearance had been studied on the video recordings.
The vehicles had since been accounted for as belonging to residents in the area, said Nico Potgieter, the head of Enforce Security’s investigations unit, which has been mandated by Spar to investigate.
Countless hours spent glued to the footage lay ahead, he added, as the video files were large and could not be viewed in real time.
Galloway disappeared from his home as he was preparing to leave for Mthatha, where he has a business. His wallet, with bank cards, as well as cellphones and iPad were left behind, giving investigators little to go on in a bid to trace him.
Potgieter said footage from a neighbour’s CCTV cameras - which The Mercury reported on Wednesday had captured a blurry image of a vehicle speeding off from Galloway’s home at the time of his disappearance - would also be examined.
“The video footage is going to play a critical role in terms of seeing which vehicles were in the area at the time of the alleged kidnapping. It is difficult to comment now on a possible motive,” he said.
Galloway’s business dealings would be looked into to see whether there could be any link to a motive.
The 59-year-old, who has previously chaired the South African Sugar and SA Canegrowers’ Associations, owns a Spar and several Build It franchises.
Galloway’s son, Wayne, is believed to be in business with his father. The 29-year-old is listed on LexisNexis - which provides ownership information on South African companies - as the director of the G&M Investment Group.
His son is also the director of four other companies.
LexisNexis lists Galloway as being the director of 16 companies, two of which are being deregistered.
Another two companies that were under his ownership have been deregistered.
A R50 000 reward has been offered for any information that could help police and investigators find Galloway.
Spar offered R25 000 and Galloway’s family has matched this.
Wayne Galloway said on Wednesday hope had not yet been lost and police and private investigators were working hard to find his father. Asked how the family were coping, he said the feelings and emotions could not be put into words.
The Galloways are apparently related to the renowned Durban hockey family the Madsens.
On Facebook, family members have posted requests for prayer and hope while the search continues.
The Mercury