Kidnapped Edenvale man rescued after ransom plot uncovered
Authorities rescued a 54-year-old Edenvale man held for ransom after he was lured to a fake property viewing in Tembisa. The victim was found tied up and guarded by his captors. Three suspects have been arrested, and R280 000 in stolen funds was recovered in a multi-agency operation involving SAPS, EMPD, and private partners.
Authorities foiled a kidnapping-for-ransom plot after a person reported missing in Edenvale was rescued in Tembisa, leading to the arrest of three criminals.
According to Warrant Officer Jacob Mashile, the communications officer for the Edenvale Police Station, the victim, 54-year-old Washington Gororo, was reported missing on May 21.
He was last seen at his home last Wednesday.
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Detective Sergeant Jeaneth Makhubele of the Edenvale SAPS, who investigated the case alongside Detective Sergeant Khomotso Monareng, explained that Gororo had received a message before his disappearance about a property viewing in Tembisa.
“When the victim arrived at the given address, there was only an old house. No new construction or developments,” said Makhubele.
She said he had parked near another vehicle and that when Gororo exited his car, five people from the nearby car confronted him at gunpoint, claiming to hijack his Mercedes-Benz.
Makhubele said the criminals assaulted Gororo, forced him into another vehicle and took him to a location in Tembisa.
His blood-stained vehicle was later found abandoned near an open area in Ivory Park.
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Makhubele said law enforcement tracked one of the criminals, who had the victim’s cellphone, to the OR Tambo International Airport.
She said the police believed the criminal was attempting to flee to KwaZulu-Natal.
After arresting the criminal, the suspect led the SAPS to a property in Tembisa where two other criminals were guarding Gororo.
“Before authorities arrived and rescued the victim, the two suspects guarding him tried to pretend they were victims, too, using cable ties to bind their own hands,” said Makhubele.
The investigation suggests the motive was ransom.
“The criminals withdrew R280 000 from the victim’s account,” Makhubele said.
She said they found the money on the suspect trying to flee to KwaZulu-Natal.
Reports initially stated that five suspects were arrested, and multiple victims and stolen vehicles were recovered.
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However, Makhubele clarified that only one victim was rescued, and three criminals were apprehended.
Gororo was rescued on May 22.
She said the suspects are aged between 30 and 50.
The operation involved the Edenvale SAPS, Standard Bank, Tracker, the EMPD and the Johannesburg Flying Squad.
