Quick thinking by a businessman led to his escape when he was kidnapped and ransom was demanded from his family, on Monday.<\/p>\n
Didi Bosawa (34), a Rosettenville resident, is lucky to be alive after four men ambushed, kidnapped and tortured him to get money from him.<\/p>
Bosawa said he was in Bree Street attempting to sort out a debt issue with a man he thought was his friend.<\/p>\n
He said he owed the friend money and was meeting him to arrange a plan to repay him the R9 000 he owed.<\/p>
Bosawa was waiting for the friend at the Bree Taxi Rank when he was ambushed by four men and a woman.<\/p>\n
He said the culprits pointed a firearm at him and forced him into a car.<\/p>\n
Bosawa, while being forced into the car, memorised the car\u2019s registration plate, CH 98 PY GP.<\/p>\n
He said the group claimed to be detectives.<\/p>\n
The group of attackers drove in two cars towards Germiston.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we reached Germiston my face was covered and I couldn\u2019t see where we were going.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could not resist as I was handcuffed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bosawa quickly started calculating how long he was kept blindfolded.<\/p>\n
He said it was about a 15-minute drive to the location.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Mother wants answers about son\u2019s death in police cells<\/a><\/p>\n Suspect arrested for alleged Dukathole murder<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was taken into a residence in Voortrekker Street and handcuffed to a steel rail in the back yard of the premises.<\/p>\n \u201cI was also assaulted during the drive until we reached the premises,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy kidnappers demanded R45 000 from me and said they would kill me that night if they did not get the money.<\/p>\n \u201cAt that moment I realised the men were not the police.<\/p>\n \u201cThey took all sorts of weapons out to intimidate me and I pleaded with the men to make a few calls to my wife Elinda Kifakio (25) so that we could start raising the money.\u201d<\/p>\n The men and woman allowed him to make the call.<\/p>\n \u201cI quickly sent details of my location to my wife and deleted them afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cI noted the address by looking at the bin.<\/p>\n \u201cI told my wife everything in the short space of time allowed to me – even the car\u2019s number plate, via WhatsApp and then deleted the message.<\/p>\n \u201cI used French as well as Lingala, my mother tongue, to communicate with my wife so they could not understand.<\/p>\n \u201cI told my wife to go to the Germiston SAPS to report the matter and give them all the details and she did.<\/p>\n \u201cI was kidnapped at 11.16am and held hostage until 5pm.\u201d<\/p>\n He said about 20 police officers barged into the place alongside his wife and found him and four of the men.<\/p>\n The female culprit managed to escape.<\/p>\n The police freed him and arrested the four men.<\/p>\n A docket was opened at the Germiston Police Station.<\/p>\n The men were set to appear in court on a charge of kidnapping and possession of firearms.<\/p>\n Police confirmed the bust and said more information relating to the arrest would be provided.<\/p>\n They said sensitive new developments regarding the case had surfaced.<\/p>\n It is alleged that it links police officers to the case.<\/p>\n More information will be communicated when it becomes available.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>, Leigh Hodgson (journalist)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or Puleng Sekabate (journalist) pulengs@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n