All the heroes: Rapid response teams track Audi after abduction
A large network of security teams, farm watch groups, and police worked together for hours after a well-known Middelburg businessman was abducted in Eastdene and later found dead in the boot of a vehicle on a farm road outside town.
A co-ordinated response by multiple security groups, farm watch structures, and police units unfolded across several towns last night after well-known businessman Nasir Mahmood was abducted outside his Eastdene home.
According to an incident report circulated by Dagpatrollie this morning, the alarm was raised at 17:39 when details of the abduction were shared on the Mayday WhatsApp emergency group. Dagpatrollie immediately activated its emergency response protocol and uploaded the suspected vehicle’s details to national licence plate recognition cameras.
At the same time, information was shared with farm watch groups across several provinces, while tactical response teams were mobilised from Middelburg, Hendrina, Dullstroom, Belfast, Carolina, and Machadodorp.
The silver Audi linked to the kidnapping was later traced to a farm road about 25km along the N11 towards Hendrina. Tactical teams from Dullstroom Farm Watch and the Machadodorp CPF moved in, prompting a chase on foot when the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled.
At 18:41, responders found the abducted man in the boot of the Audi, already deceased.
Using drones and ground teams, a perimeter was established around the area, and one suspect was arrested at about 19:50 after an extensive search.
Reliable information from a source (who wants to stay anonymous) indicates that one of the suspects may have been wounded during the incident, allegedly by a shot fired by an accomplice when Mahmood was abducted in the street.
• According to information that was given to the Middelburg Observer, investigators are also looking into the possible involvement of a second vehicle, believed to be a white Toyota.
• The operation involved Dagpatrollie, Farm Watch, the Machadodorp CPF, SAPS K9, Highway Patrol, Middelburg SAPS, Pathology members, the forensic team (LCRC – Local Criminal Record Centre from the police), Titanium Securitas, ACSU Hendrina, Eastdene Neighbourhood Watch, Titon Security and Alarms, and the medical team from Optimum.
• Another source told the journalist that a second incident was reported later the same night when an armed robbery and hijacking occurred a short distance from the original crime scene. The hijacked vehicle was recovered, but no arrests were made.
• A media enquiry was sent to the provincial police media office last night. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said further information would be provided once the details had been relayed to him. The paper also asked him about the second incident, but a reply has not been received yet.
