Polokwane – Limpopo police are investigating a brazen case of kidnapping and extortion after a person was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from a visitor home and compelled to switch greater than R900 000 to his captors.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba stated the person’s ordeal, which lasted a number of days, started on Friday, 17 April 2026, at about 07:00 within the village of Letebejane, Limpopo.
Brigadier Mashaba stated the sufferer was at a visitor home along with his girlfriend when three unknown male suspects, armed with firearms and with their faces lined, approached them.
The suspects allegedly pointed weapons on the couple and ordered the person to get into his parked Ford Ranger car.
They then drove him to an unknown location close to Pretoria, the place they compelled him to open his banking app and make a number of digital transfers.
The ordeal continued for a number of days.
On Thursday, 23 April 2026, the abductors took the sufferer to a shopping center within the Hammanskraal space (north of Pretoria) and instructed him to enter a financial institution department to hold out additional transactions.
All through the incident, the suspects repeatedly threatened him, claiming his girlfriend was being held hostage and could be killed if he alerted the police or tried to get assist.
Beneath excessive duress, the person transferred greater than R900 000 to accounts managed by the suspects.
Police detectives from the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime unit have since opened a case of kidnapping and extortion.
Preliminary investigations present that the sufferer’s Ford Ranger, fitted with a monitoring gadget, is now believed to be in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Brigadier Mashaba stated the sufferer was finally launched, although police haven’t disclosed additional particulars about his girlfriend’s state of affairs or how he managed to report the crime.
Anybody with data that might assist find the suspects is urged to contact him, the closest police station, Crime Cease on 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS App.
Sergeant Ronnie Hlakole is the investigating officer and may be contacted on 073 412 5932.
The case highlights the rising menace of organised kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion syndicates working throughout provinces and even into neighbouring nations.
