10 Million Ransom for Businessman, Kelvin Naidoo’s Return

Picture courtesy: (EUGENE COETZEE)The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of R10 million for the return of Kelvin Naidoo.

(The Post News)- The Eastern Cape Hawks have confirmed that a ransom has been demanded for the safe return of Kelvin Naidoo.

Naidoo, who is vice president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, was forcibly taken by masked assailants after they rammed his Mercedes Benz near his workplace in Lindsay Road, Gqeberha, Friday morning.

The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of R10 million for the return of 51-year-old Naidoo.

Concerns were raised about the safety of the family man. A ” proof of life photo” submitted by the kidnappers allegedly showed Naidoo looking shaken and weak.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the ransom demand was made just hours after the abduction.

She said the whereabouts of Naidoo, a technical director at AutoX, was still unknown.

Mgolodela said the Hawks were all-out in their efforts to find Naidoo. According to police, at about 6 am on Friday, a white Nissan NP200 crashed into Naidoo’s car, forcing him to stop.

Another van pulled up behind him and five armed suspects wearing balaclavas got out. They forced him out of his black Mercedes Benz, forced him into the truck and drove off.

The Nissan and Naidoo’s vehicles were ditched at the scene. Mgolodela said the Hawks could not reveal any further information at this stage as the matter remains confidential.

“Ultimately, our mission is to ensure that the victims are released without paying a ransom.”

She added that it is also very worrying that at the end of April, they conducted an awareness-raising campaign to look in detail at cases relating to kidnapping for blackmail.

“For two months, there has been a dormant period of this type of criminal activity, but now this issue is resurfacing, meaning we at the Hawks have to come up with a different strategy to curb the frequency of such incidents.

“We also appeal to the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators,” Mgodolela said.

Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana from the Hawks said on Sunday that they are treating each case according to its merits.

There have been several high-profile kidnappings in Nelson Mandela Bay recently, but Mlakuvana said at this stage there was no indication that Naidoo’s abduction was linked to the other incidents.

New police Minister Senzo Mchunu said tackling crime in the Eastern and Western Cape was one of the police department’s top priorities and would be followed up closely.

Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Mthatha were noted as some of the crime hubs in the state.