Benoni businessman’s murder: Cops kill suspect in shoot-out

A suspect linked to the kidnapping and murder of Benoni businessman Shanshudeen Faki (68) was shot and killed during a shoot-out with police at 18:30 last night.

According to the information received from Raymond Sambo, the media officer for the Johannesburg Flying Squad, officers from the SAPS Anti-Kidnapping Unit, tasked with investigating the kidnapping, traced one of the alleged perpetrators to the N12.

“The suspect was travelling in a gold Toyota Hilux on the N12 between the Kliprivier and Xavier off-ramps in Winchester Hills. Members attempted to bring the vehicle to a stop, but the driver pointed a firearm at the officers, leading to a shoot-out. The suspect died on the scene. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a 9mm Browning and a Taurus .38 Special revolver, with the serial numbers of both filed off,” Sambo explains.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says officers also found the suspect in possession of Faki’s identity documents, a blue light and number plates used in the commission of the kidnapping.

“The suspect can be linked to at least 29 cases of theft of motor vehicles and hijacking,” she explains, adding that officers had arrested 250 suspects linked to cases of kidnapping for ransom since 2022.

Kidnapping

Faki, the co-owner of Dawood Megastore in Dunswart, Boksburg, was kidnapped from the business’ parking area at 07:55 on Saturday.

According to an eyewitness, Faki, a Benoni resident, arrived at the business on the corner of Main Reef Road and Commissioner Street and made his way to his usual covered parking spot.

A white Volkswagen Amarok with tinted windows drove in shortly after him, and it is alleged that four African men, all armed and wearing black, dragged Faki into the back of their vehicle.

The eyewitness shouted at the men to let ‘mkhulu‘, as Faki was fondly known, go.

“One of them wearing a balaclava fired a shot into the air,” said the witness who wishes to remain anonymous.

“The Amarok sped off over the Dunswart bridge towards Van Dyk Road. The door was still open, and I could see mkhulu in the backseat.”

Body found

Faki’s body was on Monday found in Leachville, Brakpan.

Information circulated by the Brakpan CPF Sector 4 chairperson, Jessy Naicker, stated the discovery was made in a veld near Dalpark Secondary School on Rangeview Road.

According to Naicker, the body was wrapped in white material.

The Brakpan Herald yesterday reported that a ransom demand of $3m (R55m) was reportedly made on Sunday.

Investigations continue as the police intensify the search for more suspects.