Kidnappings continue — man held after Gqeberha businessman abducted in Perridgevale last week

A 43-year-old man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, extortion and possession of an unlicensed firearm for the abduction of a Gqeberha businessman who was abducted outside a residential complex in Perridgevale on Tuesday last week.

According to Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the businessman had left the Atrium Spar in Perridgevale at around 7.10pm when a white Volkswagen Polo with no registration number and a distinctive spare wheel on the front passenger side followed him.

At his residence, the Polo driver blocked in his Mercedes-Benz, and the man, a member of the close-knit Greek community in Nelson Mandela Bay, was forcibly removed from his car before being driven away. His vehicle was left abandoned at the entrance of the complex, doors wide open, prompting family members to alert police.

“Intelligence-driven information led the team to a specific homestead in Despatch,” Mhlakuvana said.

“On arrival, the police identified the vehicle that was suspected to have been involved in the incident. The suspect was found inside the room, and upon being searched, he was found in possession of an unlicensed 7.65mm Norinco pistol with its serial number erased and live rounds of ammunition. The suspect was immediately arrested. The vehicle, firearm and ammunition were seized for further investigation.”

Mhlakuvana said further investigation established that the suspects had made multiple cash withdrawals from ATMs in Kariega using the victim’s bank card, taking an undisclosed sum of money. “Due to the pressure exerted by the police on the suspects, the victim was released unharmed in Motherwell on the evening of 17 October 2025,” he said.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Over the past 18 months, at least 14 kidnappings – primarily motivated by ransom demands – have taken place in Nelson Mandela Bay.

When releasing the provincial crime statistics in July, MEC for Community Safety Xolile Nqatha said kidnappings in the Eastern Cape had increased from 14 counts in the second quarter of 2024 to 35 counts in the second quarter of 2025.

Cases included:

• A  45-year-old teacher was kidnapped in March 2025 outside Happydale Special School in Algoa Park. Armed men dragged her from her Toyota Fortuner shortly after she arrived. She was reunited with her family three days later. It is unclear if a ransom was paid.
• Josh Sullivan, an American missionary, was abducted in April 2025 during a church service in Motherwell. He was rescued five days later in KwaMagaki during a police operation in which three suspects were killed.
• Ebrahim Moosa, a businessman from Kruisrivier near Kariega, was kidnapped in February 2025 from his business premises. He was rescued by the police a week later. Two people were arrested.
• Two foreign nationals were kidnapped in mid-February 2025 in an undisclosed part of Nelson Mandela Bay. Police have confirmed the case, but provided few details. Investigations continue.
• A Somali was abducted in Gelvandale in November 2024, held for ransom and released three days later with minor injuries. His kidnappers remain at large.
• Qays Mohaned Hersi Mohamoud, a Somali student, was kidnapped in Gelvandale in November 2024. He was later released unharmed.
• Kelvin Naidoo, the deputy president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, was abducted in July 2024 and released six days later.
• In June 2025, Lindsay Knowlden was kidnapped from the municipality’s fresh produce market in Markman in an early-morning attack that left her husband injured. She was later released.
• A Cleary Estate woman was kidnapped on 3 July 2025, and then businessman Chris Kaldelis was kidnapped in Schauderville on 8 July.
• Another businessman was taken in August 2025 on Nielson Street, Neave Industrial area, Korsten, but he was released after a community intervention without ransom being paid.
• Theresa Minnie was kidnapped on 11 August 2025 outside her Kariega home and released a few days later. An amount of R1.1-million was paid to secure Minnie’s safe return. Arrests have been made in this case.
• Another businessman was taken on 12 August 2025 on Nielson Street, Neave Industrial area, Korsten, but he was released after a community intervention, without a ransom being paid.
• Gqeberha resident Tracey Fourie was kidnapped on 20 August 2025 and later released.  Six people were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and are facing charges of kidnapping and extortion. DM