Cape Town – Police in the Eastern Cape have arrested two men and shot dead a third suspect in connection with a series of kidnappings, authorities said.
The Hawks and tactical units tracked the suspects after receiving information about a vehicle linked to the crimes, which took place in areas including Izele, Ndevana, Dimbaza and Zwelitsha.
According to Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, spokesperson for the Hawks, the operation was linked to a series of kidnapping and armed robbery cases reported in areas including Izele, Ndevana, Dimbaza and Zwelitsha. Law enforcement officials had been tracking a white Ford Fiesta believed to have been used in the crimes.
“On 3 February 2026, detailed information relating to the vehicle was circulated to the police in order to facilitate tracing and interception,” Mhlakuvana said, describing how the joint team located the car at King William’s Town on 4 February.
When officers intercepted the vehicle, all three occupants got out, but one opened fire on police. “During the exchange of fire, one suspect was fatally wounded and declared deceased at the scene,” Mhlakuvana said. The other two, aged between 27 and 29, were arrested without injury to the public or officers.
#sapsEC The #Hawks Kidnapping Task Team together with the East London #SAPS TRT members, recorded a significant operational breakthrough in the fight against violent and organised #kidnapping and armed robbery within the Eastern Cape Province.
Following an intelligence led… pic.twitter.com/YyRLlRU5R2
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) February 5, 2026
A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded three unlicensed firearms, eight mobile phones and several SIM cards, which police believe link the suspects directly to the kidnapping cases.
The arrested men are expected to appear in the Qonce Magistrate’s Court on 6 February 2026, where they will face charges related to kidnapping and robbery with a firearm, Mhlakuvana said.
Major General Obed Ngwenya, Provincial Head of the Hawks, praised the coordinated efforts, reaffirming that kidnappings and organised violent crime remain high‑priority matters for law enforcement. “Perpetrators will be relentlessly pursued and brought before the courts,” Mhlakuvana quoted him saying.
The Eastern Cape has seen other high‑profile anti‑kidnapping operations in recent months, including rescues of victims and further arrests linked to local syndicates, highlighting ongoing efforts by the Hawks to dismantle criminal networks operating in the province.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
