Bheki Cele says kidnapping has become a lucrative business in organised crime

Police Minister Bheki Cele on Friday revealed that kidnapping for ransom had become a lucrative business in organized crime.

According to the third quarter crime statistics, a total of 3,975 people were kidnapped between 1 October and 31 December 2023.

From the recorded figure, a ransom was demanded for 138 kidnappings, 23 people were trafficked while 18 were held for extortion.

Cele had this to say about the scourge of kidnapping: “Kidnappings for ransom has become a lucrative commodity for organized crime in South Africa. The SAPS [South African Police Service] continues in its efforts to identify and arrest groupings linked to kidnappings, especially where ransom demands are being made. More than 300 suspects linked to these kidnappings have been arrested in the last two years.”

-EWN

In other news – Black Motion’s Thabo Smol speaks on claims DJ Zinhle is the reason he split with Murdah Bongz

Black Motion was one of Mzansi’s biggest musical stars, it consisted of Murdah Bongz and Thabo Smol, and their split came as a shock to many who wondered why they would break up a group that was doing so well in the music scene.

Bizarrely, some blamed Murdah Bongz’s wife DJ Zinhle for the breakup. And now, Thabo who recently visited Podcast and Chill has come out to clear the air on the split he insists was not caused by Zinhle. Read More