Cape Town - Local businessman Ismail Rajah, of Good Hope Construction in Parow, has been found alive in Khayelitsha, and two Mozambican nationals and two South Africans have been arrested.
Police have yet to reveal whether the group can be linked to similar kidnappings in the Western Cape, operating under an alleged syndicate.
The two Mozambican nationals and two South Africans, between the ages of 30 and 38, are behind bars.
Rajah was unharmed and was reunited with his family, police said.
Just after midnight, the police’s Special Task Force (STF) swooped on the premises in Khayelitsha where they found Rajah, 69, and arrested four of his alleged kidnappers.
Police state that Rajah’s family were going to meet the demands for a ransom and were already en route to Dubai to make this possible when the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team intervened.
Rajah was kidnapped outside his business in Parow by two armed men who were driving an Audi Q7 and apparently travelled in the direction of De la Rey Road.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the group was expected to make an appearance in court tomorrow on charges relating to the kidnapping.
“A midnight take-down operation has resulted in the arrest of four men after a 69-year-old businessman was rescued from his captors at a house in Khayelitsha, Cape Town,” said Mathe.
“Mr Ismail Rajah was kidnapped outside his business premises in Parow in March.
“Following his kidnapping, a ransom demand was made to his family. It is reported that the family were already en route to Dubai to expedite the ransom payment when the SAPS National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team was roped in to investigate.
“The team immediately mobilised the Special Task Force, Organised Crime investigators, crime scene experts, and collaborated with private security. Just after midnight on Wednesday, the team pounced on an identified address and rescued the victim.
“Four men, two Mozambican nationals and two South Africans between the ages of 30 and 38, were apprehended.”
Police confiscated cellphones and various equipment on suspicion that they were used by the suspects during the commission of the crime, Mathe said.
“The SAPS is urging members of the public to immediately report kidnappings so as to enable police to investigate, effect arrests and rescue victims.”
The four suspects are expected to appear before the Parow Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
“Meanwhile, Mr Rajah has been safely reunited with his family, safe and unharmed,” Mathe said.
Crime fighters close to the investigation, who cannot be identified, said they were asking whether the group could be linked to other crimes.
“The question that must be asked is if these persons are linked to a syndicate and are behind other kidnappings in the Western Cape,” said the crime fighter.
In March, Rajah’s family maintained their silence with the media.
The Cape Argus reported that Rajah's company, Good Hope Plasters, trading under Good Hope Construction, had been in financial trouble.
The company had applied for business rescue last year.
Shireen Essop of Manenberg, who disappeared while driving home from work along Weltevreden Road in Brown’s Farm, Philippi, on May 23, has since been reunited with her family after she was found in Klipfontein Mission Station by neighbourhood watch members.
A 34-year-old suspect allegedly linked to her kidnapping has since been arrested.