Political leader's kidnap horror

UDM Deputy President, Nqabayomzi Nkwankwa experienced a harrowing ordeal in Cape Town on Tuesday, 18 June.

He was hijacked, kidnapped, and robbed while en route to the Cape Town International Airport.

Nkwankwa was scheduled to travel to Pretoria for President Cyril Ramaphosa's inauguration on Wednesday, 19 June.

Before heading to the airport, Nkwankwa visited Mfuleni. It was during his journey from Mfuleni that he was ambushed. Kidnappers demanded a R10 000 ransom, which was immediately paid.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa confirmed the incident in a statement.

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"The UDM would like to confirm that Deputy President, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, was kidnapped today (Tuesday, 18June) on his way to Cape Town Airport en route to the Presidential inauguration. A ransom of R10 000 was demanded for his safe return.

Read the statement, in parts: "The UDM paid the ransom, and Mr Kwankwa was safely released, albeit shaken and traumatised. All his belongings, including his vehicle, were stolen. His vehicle was later found abandoned. Mr Kwankwa is in contact with the police and his family has been informed of what has occurred."

Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa reported that the Western Cape Anti-Kidnapping multidisciplinary task team is investigating the incident.

"Western Cape Anti-Kidnapping multidisciplinary task team comprising Organised Crime investigation and DPCI investigators as well as Crime Intelligence, is currently piecing together details following an incident where a 44-year-old man was allegedly hijacked, kidnapped and robbed by armed suspects in Driftsands, Mfuleni on Tuesday afternoon," Potelwa said.

"Allegedly after the ordeal the victim was dropped off in Lingelethu West, Khayelitsha where he made his way to a police station in the area to report the crime. His vehicle has since been recovered in the Khayelitsha area."

Investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made yet.