Two men accused of kidnapping a family during a house robbery in Cloverdene, Benoni, were arrested after EMPD officers recovered an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, a knife and a cellphone allegedly containing ransom demand messages linked to the crime near the Chief Albert Luthuli informal settlement, an area recently targeted in a major law enforcement crackdown on illegal mining and organised criminal activity.

The suspects, aged 21 and 31, were arrested by Kingsway EMPD officers in the early hours of May 14 and now face charges of house robbery, kidnapping, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and possession of suspected stolen property.

Officers were patrolling in Chief Albert Luthuli Park when they received reports of a house robbery and kidnapping on Kunene Street in Cloverdene. Preliminary information indicated that a family had reportedly been held captive by suspects who demanded a ransom. Members of the SAPS in Crystal Park were summoned to the scene and took over the investigation.

EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Kelebogile Thepa said officers later stopped a car with four occupants on Venda Street in Daveyton at about 03:00. The four men allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot, prompting a chase.

Officers managed to apprehend two suspects, identified as an e-hailing driver and a foreign national. During a search, officers recovered a black 9mm Norinco Model 20iC firearm, a magazine loaded with six rounds of ammunition, a knife, and a cellphone allegedly containing conversations linked to the house robbery and kidnapping, including ransom demands.

Officers later returned to the victims’ home after being informed that the family had safely returned. The victims allegedly identified the two arrested men as suspects involved in the incident.

The suspects were detained at Crystal Park SAPS. Police also seized a blue Nova cellphone believed to be linked to a robbery and murder that allegedly occurred earlier the same day in Cloverdene.

The suspects are expected to appear in the relevant Magistrate’s Court soon.

The latest incident comes just days after a large-scale multi-agency operation in the nearby Putfontein and Cloverdene area led to the arrest of over 100 suspected illegal miners and the demolition of dozens of structures allegedly used to conceal illegal mining activities.

The crackdown involved the EMPD, SAPS, SANDF, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Home Affairs and several Ekurhuleni departments. Authorities confiscated mining equipment, generators, gas cylinders and explosives, while illegal electricity connections supplying the settlement were disconnected.

Officials have repeatedly warned that illegal mining operations are often linked to violent crime, firearms offences and organised criminal networks operating across parts of Ekurhuleni, including Benoni, Boksburg and Germiston.

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