APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South African law enforcement officials have expressed concern that “transnational organised crime is spreading extremely fast” between the country and neighbouring Mozambique amid revelations that the alleged perpetrators have bribed corrupt Pretoria officials to be given free rein.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Athlenda Mathe told TimesLive news outlet that cross-border kidnappings involving nationals from the two countries “are becoming more complex and volatile.”
“Transnational organised crime is spreading extremely fast between the two countries,” Mathe said.
She said close collaboration between South African and Mozambican officials has so far identified 13 syndicate members “as persons of interest.”
“To curb kidnappings, the SAPS and the Mozambique Criminal Investigation Division have boosted relationships to enhance co-operation and exchange information.”
She added: “This sharing of information has led to the development of organised crime programmes to address kidnappings, including the planning and conducting of joint operations and the deployment of sophisticated technology to trace fugitives.”
TimesLIVE reported on Friday that an investigation by its team has revealed how alleged international crime bosses have been given free rein by corrupt South African police and home affairs officials, enabling them to terrorise local and international business owners with impunity.
The investigation focuses on Momade Assife “Nini” Satar, a convicted murderer who is serving a 24-year prison sentence in Mozambique for killing a journalist who exposed his involvement in a bank fraud scandal.
Satar is accused of masterminding some of South Africa’s major ransom kidnappings, with his trusted lieutenants carrying out the crimes.
The investigation also exposes how Satar’s group has links to other notorious criminals and how they have managed to evade justice by bribing or intimidating officials, witnesses and victims.
Several corrupt South African police, home affairs and private banking officials have been arrested for their alleged roles in the criminal operations.
The investigation also reveals the harrowing ordeal of some of the kidnapping victims, who were tortured, burnt, waterboarded and starved while their families were extorted for millions of rands.
Some of the victims died in captivity or after being released.
The investigation also raises questions about the role of SAPS, the intelligence services and the Ministry of Police in dealing with the kidnapping syndicate and protecting the public from their reign of terror.
JN/APA