Nirvana businessman and daughter escape attempted kidnapping
The prominent businessman and his son had been kidnapped in 2016 by six men, while his business partner was shot inside their shop in Mankweng last month.
POLOKWANE – A Polokwane businessman and his 21-year-old daughter narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt in Nirvana early Monday morning.
The attack occurred around 05:00 as the businessman, a prominent member of the community, was on his routine morning walk with his daughter.
Two men jumped out of a silver hatchback with no registration plates and confronted them on the main road connecting the N1.
Ignoring the businessman’s attempts to offer his phone and money, the attackers instead tried to force his daughter into their vehicle.
A struggle ensued, with the father fighting off the men until they eventually abandoned their attempt and sped off. He sustained a minor foot injury during the scuffle.
A case of attempted kidnapping has been opened at the Westenburg Police Station.
The businessman, whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons, revealed that this is not the first time he has faced a violent attack.
In 2016, he and his then eight-year-old son were kidnapped by six men along the Matlala Road.
Their vehicle was later found abandoned in a bush near Percy Fyfe, but the suspects were never apprehended.
Adding to his concerns, his business partner was shot inside their shop in Mankweng last month.
Meanwhile, a separate incident in Polokwane’s central business district (CBD) was captured on CCTV and shared on the Suburban Control Centre social media page.
The footage shows four armed men ambushing two pedestrians in Church Street, assaulting them, and stealing their belongings before casually walking away.
Police spokesperson Capt Lesiba Ramoshaba confirmed that a case of robbery with a firearm is under investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the community service centre at 079 889 5794 or the detective’s crime office at 082 729 0083. Investigating officer WO Joseph Malebana can be reached at 072 492 9635.
In another incident, a local resident was robbed of more than R9 000 on the R81 just past Mall of the North early on Sunday morning.
The motorist, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, claims that he was returning home after working at a wedding outside the city just after 04:00 and was stopped by a person in a police uniform standing alongside a 1-series BMW.
“The policeman asked for my driver’s licence and then four others, also in uniform and armed with guns, surrounded my vehicle. They demanded money and took off with more than R9 000,” he told Polokwane Observer. The resident confirmed that the matter was reported to the anti-corruption unit but not at the local police as yet. I am at a loss of words. How can a law-abiding citizen be expected to stop at a police blockade, not knowing what to expect,” he asked.
