An intelligence-driven operation by the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit has rescued five foreign nationals who were allegedly abducted in Giyani, held captive for 12 days, assaulted and had ransom demands made to their families. Two Ethiopian nationals have been arrested and charged. Two more suspects remain at large.
Five foreign nationals who were allegedly kidnapped, held captive for 12 days and subjected to assault while their families were pressured to pay ransom have been rescued following an intelligence-driven police operation in the Levubu policing area of the Vhembe District in Limpopo. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping syndicate and have appeared in court. Two more suspects remain at large and are being sought by police.
How the Operation Unfolded
The operation was initiated after a foreign national residing in Giyani in the Mopani District opened a kidnapping case at his local police station on Tuesday 7 May 2026. The complainant reported receiving calls from unknown suspects demanding a ransom payment in exchange for the release of his brother, who had allegedly been abducted.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit immediately commenced intelligence gathering and began following up on critical leads. Those investigations culminated in an operation conducted on Saturday 16 May 2026 at approximately 8am at Valdezia Mambedi Village in the Levubu policing precinct.
Upon arriving at a local spaza shop identified during the investigation, officers found two foreign male suspects on the premises and conducted an immediate search. During the search police discovered and seized illicit cigarettes, cellphones and an undisclosed amount of money including coins stored in plastic bags. The five victims were found on the premises seated on the floor, half-naked and visibly distressed. All five were rescued at the scene.
Who the Victims Are
The five rescued victims are foreign nationals aged between 18 and 24. They had allegedly been abducted in the Giyani area and held captive for 12 days prior to their rescue. During their captivity they were allegedly subjected to assault and their families were allegedly contacted and pressured to pay ransom for their release. Further details about the victims’ nationalities and the specific circumstances of their abduction are subject to ongoing investigation.
The Arrests and Court Appearances
The two suspects arrested during the Levubu operation are Ethiopian nationals. They appeared before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping on Monday 18 May 2026 and before the Waterval Magistrate’s Court on charges related to the possession of illicit cigarettes and money laundering on the same day. Both suspects were remanded in custody.
They are expected to appear again before the Waterval Magistrate’s Court on Friday 22 May 2026 and before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Monday 25 May 2026. Two additional suspects linked to the alleged syndicate remain at large and police investigations to locate them are ongoing.
A Pattern of Kidnappings Targeting Foreign Nationals
The Levubu operation is not an isolated incident. Limpopo, and the Giyani area in particular, has seen a pattern of kidnapping cases targeting foreign nationals, predominantly Ethiopians, in which fellow foreign nationals are implicated as perpetrators. In a separate case in 2023, two Ethiopian nationals aged 20 and 22 were arrested after allegedly kidnapping fellow Ethiopians and demanding an R80,000 ransom. In that case, preliminary investigations revealed that eight victims had been held for between 10 and 15 days before being rescued.
Law enforcement officials have described these operations as reflecting the activities of organised criminal syndicates that specifically target vulnerable foreign nationals, exploiting their often undocumented status and their reluctance to engage with law enforcement as leverage in ransom operations.
Police Praised for the Operation
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe praised the members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit for their dedication and professionalism in dismantling an alleged criminal syndicate that had been preying on vulnerable foreign nationals. The commissioner emphasised the importance of intelligence-driven policing in identifying and neutralising these syndicates before further harm could be caused.
Anyone with information about the two suspects still at large is urged to contact the South African Police Service on Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or to submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App.
Editors Note The two arrested suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.