Cross-dressing crime boss busted
She is believed to be the head of a sophisticated syndicate that kidnaps people and then demands money from the kidnapped person's relative.
A cross-dressing crime boss alleged to be the head of a sophisticated syndicate was arrested on Wednesday, April 9.
Lindokuhle ‘Lindy’ Ndaba (who has lived around Blue Bank, Bergville and Pietermaritzburg) is alleged to be the head of a sophisticated syndicate that kidnaps people and then demands money from the kidnapped person’s relatives in order to secure their release.
She had managed to elude police by switching between male and female disguises.
The investigating officer received information from members of the public after an appeal by police placed in local newspapers and online that the suspect was seen in the Bergville area. Assisted by an officer from the Ladysmith Visible Policing Unit, the investigating officer went in search of her. The search led them to the Bethany area of Bergville, where assistance from Bergville detectives was obtained. The group of police officers located and arrested the suspect late that evening.
Ndaba was brought to Ladysmith, where she proved to be co-operative. Two men, aged 20 and 29, were then taken in for questioning on Friday, April 11. Later the same day, the remains of a body was located in the Besters area. DNA samples will be taken to verify the identity of the person found. The suspects are due to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court today (Monday, April 14). At this stage, the suspects will face charges of murder, extortion, and theft by false pretences.
These charges relate to the disappearance of 53-year-old Mr Joseph Kock, who was reported missing at Douglas SAPS (Northern Cape) by a relative. He is a truck driver and was expected back home on January 29 after making a delivery in the Durban area. However, he did not return and on January 30, a missing persons report was filed. The truck was later found abandoned along the N3 outside Ladysmith. On February 23, the relative received a phone call from a person stating that the missing man was being held captive by very dangerous people and that a payment should be made to secure his release. The relative paid some money into the given bank account. Later, the wanted suspect, Lindokuhle Silindile Portia Ndaba, was linked to the incident.
“After local and provincial newspapers ran the story, the community did get involved,” commented Captain Charmaine Struwig.
