Kidnap victim still missing after suspects are arrested
The family of a man who was kidnapped from Festival Mall on September 30 is accusing the SAPS of failing to find their son, even though the kidnappers have been arrested.
According to Mr Fhatuwani Mukwevho, his younger brother Itani Kanakana was allegedly kidnapped shortly after withdrawing money from a bank at Festival Mall.
“After we opened the case, we realised that police were doing nothing. Even though we told them my brother disappeared from Festival Mall, they did not even bother to go there,” he said.
He said the family started investigating the case themselves.
“We went to Festival Mall and spoke to the manager. She agreed to show us the CCTV camera footage. We saw my brother being approached by a stranger who led him to a red Toyota Corolla. From the CCTV cameras, we managed to get pictures of the suspect and the registration number of the car. We gave the police all the information, and that is when they managed to arrest the first suspect on October 9,” he said.
He added that they arrested the second suspect the following day.
“Are the police so toothless that they can fail to get the whereabouts of my brother, even when we helped them arrest the suspects?” he asked.
When asked how he feels about his son’s disappearance, Itani’s father, Mr Edward Kanakana, said he has lost hope in the SAPS.
“I don’t know what is happening in the SAPS today. They have suspects who have confessed to kidnapping my son, but the police has failed to locate my son. It is unbelievable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Captain Jethro Mtshali said, “We wish to explain that we fully understand the family’s devastation, especially with losing one of your family members in a mysterious manner. We wish to assure the family that this matter is receiving attention.
“The detective is investigating a similar case where the same suspects were involved. However, police officers have and are trying all their best to establish the whereabouts of the missing victim. Anyone with information can contact the police. The detective put all his effort into ensuring that the suspect be denied bail. He has also tried to get the suspects to tell them what happened their victim. We have asked the family to be patient and to allow the police to deal with the matter.”
