By Anita Dangazele
Nelson Mandela Bay civic groups are asking President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare crime in the city a national disaster.
They want the president to send in the SANDF in the wake of a rise in kidnappings – the latest on Friday.
New Police Minister Senzo Mchunu met with Mayor Gary van Niekerk and top police officials on Sunday to discuss the situation.
Speaking to worried residents after a private meeting, Mchunu said using the army is still being discussed.
“We don’t want to share too many details, but it’s clear our job is to reduce the crime rate,” he said.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola noted that the Eastern Cape has a lot of kidnappings.
“We have teams to deal with kidnappings,” he said, adding that they plan to strengthen the tactical response team to handle gang violence, drugs and extortion.
The minister’s visit came only days after another kidnapping of a prominent Gqeberha businessman, with kidnappers asking for R10-million for his release.
Vice-president of the NMB Business Chamber and director of Auto X, Kelvin Naidoo, 51, was taken on Friday morning outside his business in Korsten.
Police said the kidnapping happened shortly after 6am on Friday, when a white Nissan NP200 hit Naidoo’s vehicle, forcing him to stop.
Another bakkie then drew up, and five armed people wearing balaclavas dragged Naidoo from his black Mercedes-Benz and pushed him into their bakkie before driving off.
Both the Nissan and Naidoo’s vehicle were left at the scene. It was later found that the Nissan NP200 had been hijacked in Motherwell in June.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela confirmed that a ransom demand has been received.
At least nine business people have been kidnapped since January in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Pictured above: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu addressed worried residents in Gqeberha on Sunday.
Source: SAPS
