A 43-year-old man has been rescued following an intelligence-driven operation led by Johannesburg District Commissioner, Major General Nhlanhla Kubheka.
On 09 January 2026, the victim was travelling with his wife towards Booysens when they were accosted by four armed men in a Toyota Quantum. The victim was forced into the suspects’ vehicle, which sped off, leaving his wife behind. She contacted police, and a kidnapping case was registered at Kliptown Police Station.
After the kidnapping, the family received ransom demands, and several withdrawals were made from the victim’s bank account.
Police used intelligence and technology to trace the suspects’ cellphones, establishing their operation areas as Jeppe Hostel, Nancefield Hostel, and Mzimhlophe Hostel in Soweto. On 17 January 2026, a team operationalised the information, arresting four suspects at Jeppe Hostel.
Investigations linked the suspects to two more kidnapping cases from last year in Jeppe and Diepsloot. This led to four additional arrests: three in Diepsloot and one in Orlando, who was found with an unlicensed firearm.
The victim was rescued from Mzimhlophe Hostel and reunited with his family.
All eight suspects are expected to appear before the Lenasia Court today, 19 January 2026, on charges of kidnapping and extortion.