Kidnapping-for-ransom has become one of South Africa’s most worrying crime trends in recent years.
Families are left terrified, businesses are shaken, and communities live in fear.
But in the early hours of Wednesday, police struck a major blow against one of the most notorious figures driving this wave of crime.
Businessman Rescued After Terrifying Ordeal
A businessman who had been abducted was found alive in Alexandra inside a shack shortly after midnight.
His rescue came as a huge relief to both his loved ones and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, who had been tracking the case.
Shootout With the Alleged Mastermind
The breakthrough did not come quietly. Just before the victim was rescued, police were involved in a shootout with the alleged mastermind, known by the nickname “Dollarman.”
The confrontation happened near the R21 in Kempton Park and ended with Dollarman being shot and killed.
A Wanted Man Across Two Countries
Authorities revealed that Dollarman wasn’t just a local criminal — he was also wanted in Mozambique.
His name appeared on SERNIC, Mozambique’s wanted persons database, linking him to several kidnapping-for-ransom cases.
In South Africa, he was tied to at least five kidnapping incidents and further linked to housebreaking, carjacking, and possession of unlicensed firearms.
Anti-Kidnapping Task Team’s Impact
Police highlighted that since July 2021, their Anti-Kidnapping Task Team has arrested more than 337 suspects involved in similar crimes.
During these operations, they also seized over 146 illegal firearms that could have been used in further attacks.
Broader Police Operations
The crackdown on kidnappers is just one part of a much larger fight against violent crime.
In the past week alone, through Operation Shanela, SAPS arrested over 14,700 suspects for offenses ranging from murder to rape.
They also removed at least 163 illegal firearms from the streets.
Kidnapping on the Rise
Cases like this highlight just how serious South Africa’s kidnapping problem has become.
While police continue to make arrests, communities remain deeply concerned about safety and the ability to go about daily life without fear.