MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Cybercrime Leads to Kidnapping

Cybercrime Leads to Kidnapping

Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, has called on the public to be wary of cybercriminals targeting unsuspecting individuals on various social media platforms.

“The public must be aware of cybercriminals, who target unsuspecting individuals on various social media platforms with the purpose of causing harm, demanding ransoms and scamming,” the MEC said on Thursday.

This follows the kidnapping of a University of the Witwatersrand student on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

The student was reported missing by his roommate on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

According to reports, the student was lured to the suspects through the dating site, Grindr. The suspects demanded an amount of R30 000 from the student’s family for his safe return.

A team comprising members from Gauteng Crime Intelligence, Organised Crime Investigations, Hillbrow Detectives, Johannesburg Trio Detectives, Johannesburg Metro Police K9, security companies – including Vision Tactical, JT VIP, CAP Security, Fidelity Strategic Team – and Cellular Data Investigation, operationalised the information that led them to an ATM, where one of the suspects was expected to withdraw the ransom money on the M2 Road.

The police held an observation and placed the suspect under arrest as soon as he arrived. He then led the team to Denver Men’s Hostel, where the victim, aged 18, was found bound and unconscious.

Seven suspects were arrested, while three knives and the student’s personal items were also recovered. The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has commended the swift response by a multi-disciplinary team for the rescue.

The MEC commended the rescue team for their efforts.

“I would like to commend the heroic law enforcement officials, who carried out the rescue operation. The successful apprehension of the suspects is a result of collaborative efforts by various law enforcement agencies and private security companies,” said MEC Mazibuko. – SAnews.gov.za

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I know that this is off-topic so I will just jump right in and say that MyZA Directory has been great for my business.

  2. Padkos – food for the journey [putt-koss] Food that you will pack and take on the road – some sandwiches, drinks, chips, fruit and biltong and you have your padkos!