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The Hawks in the Eastern Cape are on the hunt for five men after yet another businessman was kidnapped in East London on Thursday evening.
Hawks Spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana confirmed that Pramesh Hooka was kidnapped while closing his "Autostyling" shop in Amalinda at around 17:40.
Mhlakuvana however could not confirm whether this incident is related to the spate of kidnappings of business owners in the Eastern Cape who are often released after a hefty ransom has been paid.
He also said in this case, they are not aware of any ransom that has been demanded as claimed on social media.
Mklakuvana says they are currently looking for a champagne-coloured Toyota Avanza.
Foreign nationals who own businesses in the Eastern Cape say they pay a monthly protection fee to gangs, out of fear of being kidnapped and held for ransom.
A member of the Islamic Council of Southern Africa (ICSA), Dr Naveed Anjum, said more than 50 business owners have been kidnapped in just a few months, with more than R1 million paid out in ransom.
These figures emerged at a meeting that was held by ICSA in eQonce in May and was attended by the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in South Africa, together with the Pakistan South Africa Association.
