Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3 min read | 18:05 pm CAT

The kidnapping of a Ukrainian woman in Cape Town has again put the spotlight on crime increasing across the country, specifically in the Western Cape. In its latest risk assessment report, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime found that kidnapping for ransom or extortion has been rising in SA since 2016, with researchers suggesting it may have become a viable revenue alternative to cash-in-transit heists.

In a discussion with Radio Islam International, a former volunteer crime fighter who served on community forums as an oversight watchdog, Hanif Loonat, said the very first kidnapping at the scale been seen now occurred five years ago in Cape Town, where Mr Kahn, a clothing store owner, was taken in for ransom.

According to Loonat, most snatches were cash-in transits (CIT) criminals who have volunteered to do this as it is less risky.

He said they receive payment of a vast sum to snatch people and keep them under control for such a time until they’ve been asked to release them.

“The syndicates which have started this are Pakistani nationals, a trans international syndicate based in South Africa, Mozambique as well as Dubai,” he says.

Bangladeshis and the Chinese have been the targets for the past two years.

The Chinese pay over a six-figure amount, and the Bangladeshis pay a five-figure amount, while the tethered times these individuals go through during captivity are unreal.

According to Loonat, if the government does not come to the party, vigilantism will become rife, especially in the Western Cape.

Meanwhile, the community has lost trust in the police and the authority of the NPA in the prisons. Loonat said corruption is so rife that it is scary.

Despite warnings from Loonat to the Minister in a recent meeting, there has been no response from the promises of the Minister to date.

He said, “The kidnapping unit that was put together in the Western Cape are criminal’s themselves.”

Due to confidentiality, Loonat could not share issues which had occurred during the investigation.

However, he said, “It would vindicate my statement that there is corruption within that combating unit.”

Listen below to the interview with Moulana Habib Bobat and Hanif Loonat on Radio Islam’s podcast.