18 Apr 2024 | 09:47 AM UTC
South Africa: Kidnapped Chinese national rescued near Gqeberha, April 16
Kidnapped Chinese national rescued by security services near Gqeberha, South Africa, April 16; three suspects arrested.
A Chinse national residing in South Africa was rescued by police forces from his place of detention in Missonvale near Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) on April 16. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction. The victim was a local business owner; he was abducted on April 10 while exiting his store's premises in Kariega (Uitenhage). Ransoms of USD 260,000 and USD 110,000 were reportedly demanded by the criminals but not paid. The victim's health condition is unclear.
Kariega lies approximately 30 km (18 miles) northwest of Gqeberha.
Maintain a low public profile and do not show outward displays of wealth, particularly if traveling alone and in higher-risk locations. Be alert to suspicious persons and/or activity. Vary routes regularly. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly.
Kidnapping for ransom and extortion of foreign business people and their family members is an increasing concern in South Africa, including the Eastern Cape Province. Members of the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Chinese, Malawian, and Somali communities have been specifically targeted in these incidents. Victims have reportedly been assaulted and seriously injured during the commission of the kidnappings and while in captivity. Though kidnapping mostly occurs in lower-income areas, some occurrences, mostly opportunistic, have been reported in higher-density and more popular locations.
Approximately 4,500 kidnapping cases were reported in South Africa in the first three months of 2023; of these, 213 were reported in the Eastern Cape. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces still report the highest overall numbers. Kidnappings in South Africa are mostly robbery- hijacking- or rape-related; extortion kidnappings only accounted for three percent nationwide.
Criminal gangs and syndicates operate extensively in the Eastern Cape Province area and are the likely culprits. Security forces are generally under-resourced and have been unable to stem rising crime rates, including kidnapping, which has become an increasingly national security issue. Due to ongoing socioeconomic issues, crime rates are likely to continue to escalate in the medium term.
