JOHANNESBURG - Kidnapping cases in South Africa have reached alarming levels.
Some of these cases appear to be driven by ransom-related abductions being the most common motive.
This is according to crime expert and research associate at University of Johannesburg, Calvin Rafadi often at times suspects tend to target vulnerable individuals so that a strong message can be sent to the receiver a ransom.
But against the backdrop of this, what is even more worrisome is cases that often turn cold once the ransom is paid Rafadi said.
"This is where we urge police to investigate. Let's not let the case go cold let there be investigations beyond the payment of the ransom" he said.
According to the recent report StatsSA from December 2024 a select sample from the second quarter, 561 kidnappings were linked to ransom demands, while 93 cases were associated with extortion.
This trend according to StatsSA suggests a quarterly increase in kidnapping incidents, pointing to a persistent and evolving threat to public safety.
In a recent kidnapping case, Emman Ghunman from Eastern Cape was kidnapped outside her school last week in East London.
Pleading for the return of the child Emman's father Naeem Ghumman "Please release my child, the mother is crying she is not eating,"
The nine-year-old was found a week later on 12 February.
A video shared on social media allegedly showed her begging her parents to pay a ransom.
It is still unclear how she was released.
Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said three suspects aged between 20 and 67, linked to the kidnapping were arrested
"The reports indicated that the victim was coming from school at Buffalo Flats to her home, where two unidentified suspects accosted her into a silver grey Toyota corolla to an unknown place.
"Through a meticulous investigation by the joint team led to the arrest of the suspects on 05 February 2025," Mhlakuvana said.
The trio appeared before East London Magistrate’s court the next day, where they were remanded to 19 February 2025 for formal bail application