One of the men who allegedly kidnapped two Thai nationals in Mowbray in December 2022 is allegedly linked to two 2021 kidnapping for ransom cases.
Police officers have been arrested in connection with all three kidnappings.
During a bail application in the Wynberg magistrate’s court this week by three men accused of the Mowbray kidnapping in December, it emerged that Xolani Jiyose, 37, the first accused, is linked to the kidnapping of a Nepalese national in Paarl in March 2021 and the kidnapping of a Chinese national in Cape Town in February 2021.
Six people have been arrested in these cases, which form part of a single case that will be heard in the Khayelitsha priority crimes court on March 9.
In an affidavit deposed during his bail application on Tuesday, Jiyose is said to be a “proprietor of taxis” and owns two long-distance taxis that travel between the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
He said his taxi business makes R15,000 a month.
He said he had never been arrested nor charged for a crime apart from new charges brought after his arrest, which linked him to the Khayelitsha kidnapping.
Jiyose and his co-accused Onele Qalani, 32, and Constable Aphiwe Mondi, 32, face eight charges.
According to the state they allegedly kidnapped two Thai nationals on December 22 and demanded a ransom of R700,000 for their release.
They allegedly transported the victims between Athlone and Khayelitsha and during the kidnapping stole their vehicle, cellphones, passports and a laptop.
They also allegedly forced them to make cash withdrawals of R10,000.
The three also face charges of murder and attempted murder after they allegedly beat the victims and tortured them with objects, including a Taser.
One of the victims later of his injuries after he was beaten and strangled.
They also face allegations of extortion after they allegedly told the victims’ family that if they didn’t pay R700,000 the two men would be killed.
The director of public prosecutions (DPP) has consolidated the charges under the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act — legislation aimed at giving the state power with which to tackle organised crime groups.
The accused appeared cheerful during their court appearance on Tuesday with Jiyose and Qalani represented by attorney Andile Dunga.
Qalani also deposed an affidavit claiming he was unemployed and sold chickens with his brother for a living and earned R7,000 a month.
The accused told the court they intended pleading not guilty to all charges and denied any knowledge of the crime.
The state is opposed to bail and a letter signed by the DPP confirmed they face schedule 6 charges, which means that according to the Criminal Procedure Act, the onus is on the accused to prove exceptional circumstances why they should be released on bail.
Mondi, attached to Macassar police station, is not the only SAPS member arrested in connection with kidnapping for ransom cases.
A joint Western Cape police and Hawks task team set up in October to investigate kidnappings for ransom arrested two police officers for the 21 January kidnapping of two Bangladeshi nationals in Stikland.
Two police officers were arrested in connection with one of the kidnapping cases in which Jiyose is expected to appear in Khayelitsha on March 9.
According to Western Cape police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk, six suspects including two police officers were arrested by a multidisciplinary task team after a kidnapping at a shopping centre in Mbekweni, in Paarl, on March 14 2021.
“The victim was rescued,” he said.
Van Wyk said the Paarl case and another in which a victim was kidnapped in Strand Street in the Cape Town city centre on February 16 2021 were to be heard together at the end of March.
Three suspects were arrested in relation to the Strand Street kidnapping.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.