12 Nov 2024 | 03:13 PM UTC
South Africa: Chinese national rescued on Nov. 6 following kidnapping in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal Province
Authorities rescue Chinese businesswoman on Nov. 6 following kidnaping incident in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
Authorities have announced the rescue of a Chinese national after a police operation near Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal Province, on Nov. 6. The victim, a local business owner, had been abducted along with her bodyguard while exiting her business premises in Kokstad. The bodyguard was later released. A ransom of ZAR305,000 (about USD 17,000) was paid, but the victim was not released. A second ransom of ZAR1.2 million (USD 66,000) was demanded. It is unclear whether the victim was harmed; the precise location of the rescue is also unclear. Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Kokstad is located about 170 km (106 miles) southwest of Durban.
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. Avoid traveling alone on long distances, at night, or in conditions with poor visibility. Drive with locked doors and windows drawn, and maintain a safe distance between cars in front of and behind you. Employ additional vigilance when entering/exiting a secure compound - parking, gated community, or underground. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly.
Kidnapping for ransom is an increasing concern in South Africa, including in KwaZulu-Natal Province. While criminal gangs and syndicates operate extensively in KwaZulu-Natal, opportunistic kidnapping is also a common occurrence. Victims are often local businessmen; individuals of South Asian or Chinese descent are also likely targets. Victims have reportedly been assaulted and seriously injured during the commission of 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 4,200 kidnapping cases were reported in South Africa between April and June 2024; of these, 740 were reported in the KwaZulu-Natal, the second highest after Gauteng Province. Kidnappings in South Africa are mostly robbery- hijacking- or rape-related; kidnaps for ransom only accounted for under four percent nationwide. 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.
