Three individuals from the Eastern Cape are scheduled to appear in the Cathcart Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of extortion. The suspects, aged between 33 and 34, were apprehended by the Kidnapping Task team of the Hawks and Magma Security Guards on December 13.
According to Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, the provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), the arrests were made following information received by the East London Kidnapping Task Team. The suspects, driving a Toyota Fortuner with Gauteng registration, were reportedly involved in terrorizing and extorting money from business owners in areas including Ngcobo, Cofimvaba, Dordrecht, and Queenstown.
The Kidnapping Task Team acted on the received information, tracking and intercepting the vehicle in the Cathcart policing area after the suspects had allegedly collected money. The arrests were made on the spot, and authorities seized the Toyota Fortuner, along with cash totaling R1,040 and two cell phones for further investigation.
Brigadier Selina Motlalepula Maponya, Acting Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, commended the team for their success and urged the community to remain vigilant during the festive season, emphasizing that criminals may act out of desperation.