JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Service’s anti-kidnapping task team and other role players in Gauteng have arrested three people after an attempted kidnapping at a fuel station in Melrose Arch last month.
CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media, showing the suspects attempting to force the owner of the fuel station into their vehicle at gunpoint.
Lungisani Mhlanga, Boykie Ngwana and Musawenkosi Sibanda appeared in the Joburg Magistrates Court this week facing charges of conspiracy to kidnap.
The trio were arrested by members of the anti-kidnapping task team in Gauteng 10 days after they tried to abduct the owner of a BP fuel station on Corlett Drive in Melrose Arch last month.
The footage shows how the victim, whose identity is known to Eyewitness News, managed to narrowly escape after three men, one armed with a semi-automatic rifle, attempted to force him into their vehicle.
The suspects were traced to Alexandra where three vehicles, believed to have been used in the commission of the crime were also seized during their arrests.
Their case has been postponed to next week for bail application.
Gauteng has seen a recent spike in kidnappings.
Between October and December last year, the province had a 20% increase in kidnappings – recording 2,367 cases, accounting for more than half the kidnappings in the country during this period.
EWN
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