POLOKWANE – Two men arrested in connection with an apparent kidnapping incident in the city will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today (January 27).

The men, aged 21 and 48, were arrested during a joint SAPS operation on Tuesday evening, hours after they forcefully took a 19-year-old boy from his family home which is located in the eastern suburbs of the city.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed to Review that on Tuesday the father of the victim had received a call from his neighbour informing him that five men were at his home and that they were assaulting his son.

“The suspects alleged the teenager owed them R2 000. They then forced the victim into a grey bakkie and left the scene.”

Mojapelo explained that later the same day the father received call from the ‘kidnappers’ who demanded R500 for the release of his son.

Police investigations ensued and the suspects were traced. Members of the various SAPS units and local security services reacted and the suspects were arrested at a petrol station along Grobler Street at 23:45. The kidnapped teenager was also rescued, he added.

The duo are charged with kidnapping.