Kidnapped Zimbabwean Businessman Evans Katumba Found Dead After Remaining Missing Despite R1.5M Ransom
Kidnapped Zimbabwean businessman Evans Katumba was found dead after remaining missing despite R1.5M ransom demand from the kidnappers.
South African authorities were currently probing the case of Evans Katumba, a Zimbabwean businessman based in Durban, who remained missing despite a ransom payment of R1.5 million to his kidnappers.
Reports indicated that Katumba, who had been residing in South Africa for the past decade, was abducted by assailants armed with AK47 rifles at a nightclub he had recently acquired on March 24.
As detailed, following Katumba’s disappearance, his captors initially demanded a ransom of R2.5 million. However, his family and acquaintances managed to gather R1.5 million, intending to drop it in Ballito, a coastal town near Durban, as per the kidnappers’ instructions.
Despite the ransom drop being executed, Katumba’s abductors did not uphold their promise to release him. This development has prompted a thorough investigation by South African law enforcement into the circumstances surrounding Katumba’s continued captivity leading to the discovery of his lifeless body.
“They demanded that one person should bring the money, and that police should not be involved. The money was dropped at an open field on the outskirts of Ballito, about 45 minutes from Durban.
“The kidnappers said they would release him after an hour, but that was the last communication they made,” a friend said.
SA Police and crack unit, The Hawks, are now reportedly investigating the matter.
Evans Katumba, previously a fuel station worker who transitioned to become a fuel supplier, was allegedly the victim of an attempted hijacking in December. His involvement in acquiring Yugo, the nightclub from where he was later abducted, is believed to have attracted the attention of questionable individuals in Durban.
Source | ZiMetro
