Ethiopian Businessman Fakes Own Kidnapping In KwaDukuza To Scam Father For R3 Million

What began as a high-stakes kidnapping case in KwaDukuza quickly turned into a bizarre plot twist after police uncovered that the Ethiopian “victim” had staged his own abduction.

A massive search operation involving elite police units and private security firms kicked off on Tuesday night, after the man’s father received a distressing call: his son had allegedly been kidnapped, and his vehicle had been dumped at the Blythedale flyover.

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The alleged victim continued contacting both his father and brother throughout his “ordeal,” with increasingly desperate pleas.

Fake Ransom Demand Exposed

By Wednesday morning, the supposed victim escalated the drama by begging his brother to pay a R3-million ransom to secure his release. But behind the scenes, specialist teams were piecing together a different picture.

Members from multiple units—DPCI’s Provincial Tracking Team, Serious Organised Crime Investigations, Kidnapping Team, KwaDukuza SAPS Trio Crimes, Durban SAPS hostage negotiators, and Fidelity Specialised Investigations and Operations—joined forces to investigate the incident.

Soon, the truth unravelled: there was no kidnapping. The businessman was allegedly trying to extort money from his own father.

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Arrest at Local Lodge and Legal Fallout Ahead

Police tracked the man down to a lodge in the area, where he was arrested and charged with extortion and defeating the ends of justice.

Sources say the State may now pursue legal options to recover the extensive costs involved in the elaborate investigation, which wasted valuable resources.

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