Police are Still Searching for a kidnapped Prominent Businessman, Calvin Naidoo

Gqeberha businessman, Calvin Naidoo’s search is still ongoing.

(The Post News)- The hunt for kidnapped Gqeberha businessman, Calvin Naidoo, is still ongoing. The 51-year-old was abducted in front of his workplace on the morning of Friday, July 19.

Police say Naidoo was driving on Lindsay Road, Korsten, when a Nissan NP200 collided with his vehicle, forcing him to stop.

“Another bakkie pulled up behind him, and five suspects wearing balaclavas got out,” Eastern Cape police spokesperson Sandra van Rensburg said.
“They took him out of the car, a Mercedes Benz, pushed him into the bakkie, and drove off.” Police said the suspects ditched the Nissan NP200 and the white Mercedes-Benz at the scene.

Further investigations confirmed that the Nissan NP200 had been reported hijacked in Motherwell in June 2024.

Naidoo is vice president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and a car battery manufacturer director. On Monday morning, the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (known as the Hawks) confirmed that Naidoo was still missing.

Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said that Naidoo had not yet been rescued, but “there are signs of life.” She said no arrests had been made yet.

Mike Bolhuis, a private investigator and head of Specialised Security Services, said Naidoo was a prominent businessman.

Bolhuis confirmed that his team works closely with authorities to find Naidoo and return him safely to his family.

He said the motive for the abduction was unknown at this time. The Nelson Mandela Bay metro has seen a series of kidnappings for ransom recently.

Suspected gang leader Mnyamezeli Tete is on trial for the abduction of North End businessman Running Chen in April and Kariega’s mother, Sonam Gajjar, in March.

Recent statistics show that the number of kidnappings in South Africa is alarmingly high.
StatsSA revealed that as of the 2022–2023 financial year, the total number of kidnappings in South Africa reached 15,343 cases.
Gauteng had the highest number of abductions, with 7,818 reports.