VOSLOORUS - The Kubheka family of Vosloorus is seeking answers after the disappearance of 27-year-old Mazwi Kubheka.
He was allegedly taken after a dispute over the occupation of a spaza shop.
Kubheka has been missing since 2 April.
President of the Progressive Forces of South Africa, Mthetho Ngcukayithobi, said he believes that the incident points to a broader pattern of organised crime targeting small business owners.
He made a reference to a similar case where a shop was allegedly set alight last year.
Ngcukayithobi claims a group linked to a certain foreign national approached the shop owner with the offer to buy him out.
When the owner refused, he alleges that intimidation tactics followed.
"We are saying that this is organised crime, it has been there, but it has been silent."
Ngcukayithobi speaks of what he calls control being lost, thus creating tension.
"The local economy is no longer in the hands of the South Africans, and it boils down to the people that are taking over the spaza shops, basically the retail sector as a whole," he said.
He has since called for the safe return of Mazwi, unharmed.