At least four men believed to be involved in a number of brazen cash-in-transit heists in the Mthatha CBD have been shot dead in separate incidents this month. Some are believed to have been kidnapped before being killed as their bodies were found about 150km from where they lived.
With the number of abduction cases in the Eastern Cape rising for more than a year, detectives who specialise in kidnapping cases have been deployed to fight extortion attacks in East London, Gqeberha and Mthatha. The cases have rung alarm bells and the Pakistan High Commission is concerned by the recent developments in the province.
Dozens of South Africans, including Nelson Mandela Bay residents, have allegedly been duped out of their hard-earned savings, after falling prey to a cryptocurrency operation now under investigation by the Hawks.
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After a week of intense negotiations behind closed doors, payment of a R1.1m ransom, prayer services and an arrest, Riana Pretorius, 26, was finally released by her kidnappers in the early hours of Friday.