Construction manager found unharmed after kidnapping on Addo road
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba said the 38-year-old was found on Monday.
He was working on a multimillion-rand Sanral project on the R335 between Motherwell and Addo at the time of his abduction.
'It is alleged that the suspects forced the victim into a white Mercedes-Benz vehicle along Addo Road in Gqeberha,' Fumba said.
'The victim works as a construction manager and was found unharmed and has not sustained any physical injuries.
'The investigation team is ... probing the matter to establish the full circumstances around the abduction and to ensure those responsible are swiftly brought to justice.
'We appeal to any members of the public who may have information to assist in expediting the investigation to come forward.
'All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.'
The Sunday Times reported that a R10m ransom demand had been made for Ngcobo's return.
It remains unclear whether a ransom was paid.
The Herald

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Daily Maverick
More than 1,250 missing weapons — Gqeberha gun dealer's bail bid reveals staggering losses
As Nelson Mandela Bay gun dealer Karen Webb made another bid for bail, court testimony detailed more than 1,250 missing firearms, irregular firearm training and thousands of unaccounted-for competency certificates linked to her now-defunct business. As Gqeberha firearms dealer Karen Webb launched another bid for bail on Thursday, chilling new details emerged in court: more than 1,250 firearms that were allegedly in her care are still missing. More than 100 firearms linked to Webb have already been recovered from crime scenes across the country. According to an affidavit read into the record by State Advocate Liezel Landman on behalf of Detective Sergeant JJ Botha, the weapons disappeared before Webb's arrest in February 2024 and have not yet been recovered. This means, in addition to 132 firearms linked to Webb's case that were recovered from crime scenes and suspects across the country, an additional 1,255 are allegedly out on the street illegally. Webb, 41, seated in the dock, showed little reaction as the case against her was laid bare. Her parents, seated in the front row of the public gallery, sporadically shook their heads and spoke under their breath as a string of allegations was levelled against their daughter. She has been in custody at the North End Prison since her arrest in February 2024 for her alleged involvement in supplying firearms belonging to another dealer, Chris Evans of Aquila Arms, to criminal elements around the country. She was granted R10,000 bail on appeal in June, but remains behind bars after fresh charges were brought against her, including two counts of murder. In addition to the murder charges, Webb faces 14 counts of theft, fraud and forgery, as well as several charges related to the Firearms Control Act pertaining to the unauthorised transport of weapons, failure to report the loss or theft of weapons, unauthorised production of ammunition and providing firearms training while uncertified to do so, among other charges. She also has two more matters before the court, related to the possession of contraband in prison, as well as theft for allegedly selling her ex-husband's furniture without his permission. As Botha's statement was read into the record, it came to light that several complainants had reported theft charges against Webb. While some paid for firearms in the hope of receiving them once their licences were approved, others stored firearms with her. However, all the complainants reported similar interactions with Webb – follow-ups being ignored or met with excuses, requests for refunds denied, and ultimately arriving at Webb's Arms after February 2024 and finding that the business no longer existed. The court also heard how the Professional Firearms Trainers Council (PFTC) suspended Webb's certification as a training provider after a surprise inspection uncovered several irregularities. It was found that the portfolios of evidence of several trainees were incomplete. Some theoretical tests were written in multiple different handwritings, others contained incomplete tests, unmarked tests or even a complete list of answers provided to trainees at the start of the test. It was also found that despite Webb being the only certified trainer, other employees at Webb's Arms were conducting classes. According to the evidence before the court, Webb admitted guilt and in October 2022, the PFTC suspended her training certification for five years. However, it later came to light that she had continued with training, and after a second disciplinary hearing in February 2023, she was permanently expelled by the PFTC. This brought about an investigation into 1,727 competency certificates approved by the police based on irregular training certificates issued by Webb. Botha's statement also unpacked the vast number of firearms that were at one stage stored at the premises of the defunct Webb's Arms, and how many allegedly remain unaccounted for. According to Evans, when he entered into a storage agreement with Webb in 2019, he stored a total of 2,025 firearms at Webb's Arms. Initially, these firearms were kept in the main safe, but were later moved into a separate safe on the premises for which Webb also had a key, according to Evans. In April 2023, the investigation kicked off after 18 weapons registered to Evans and Aquila Arms' dealer stock were recovered in the gang-ridden neighbourhoods of Gelvandale and Bethelsdorp. A total of 132 weapons belonging to Evans have since been recovered across the country. Police confiscated all his firearms. All of Evans's weapons stored at three other facilities were accounted for. All 132 weapons recovered went missing from his stock stored at Webb's Arms. In addition, a further 670 weapons from his stock at Webb's Arms are still unaccounted for. Concerning Webb's weapons, a total of 917 firearms are registered to her dealer stock. Before her arrest, Webb arranged for 658 firearms to be transported and stored at a premises in Sedgefield, Western Cape. However, according to Botha, 338 of these weapons were registered to private owners or businesses, and were merely stored at Webb's Arms. Only 320 of the firearms recovered from Sedgefield are registered to Webb. A further 12 firearms from her dealer stock were traced to other dealerships across the country, where they were being stored pending the approval of firearms licences. This means that of Webb's 917 registered firearms, only 332 have been traced, leaving 585 unaccounted for. Adding the 670 missing firearms belonging to Evans, it brings the total of firearms unaccounted for from Webb's Arms premises to a staggering 1,255.

The Herald
8 hours ago
- The Herald
Cops call for information after suspected hit on Gqeberha prosecutor
A Gqeberha public prosecutor was shot dead outside her house on Thursday, in what appears to have been a hit. Police have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could help in their investigation. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the incident unfolded after the public prosecutor arrived at her home in Lotton Street, Young Park, at about 3.30pm on Thursday. 'While still seated in her vehicle, a Toyota Etios, four unknown suspects wearing masks stopped in a white VW Polo in the street,' Janse van Rensburg said. 'They got out of the vehicle and multiple shots were fired at her vehicle. 'The deceased was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds but passed away on her arrival. 'The motive and the suspects are unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. 'The name of the deceased will be released once she has been officially identified.' A person who worked with her at the New Brighton court said the murdered prosecutor was a mother and a diligent court official. 'She dealt with some big cases and did a fantastic job. We are all devastated by what has happened. 'The SAPS Algoa Park detective is appealing to anyone who can provide information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspects involved in the murder to come forward.' Janse van Rensburg said any person with information could contact investigating officer Warrant Officer Errol Kleinhans on 083-243-4567, or Crime Stop on 08600 1011, or the nearest police station. 'Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via MySAPS App. All information is confidential, and callers may remain anonymous.' The Herald

TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Shop fined R600,000 over cigarettes must donate 504 desks to schools
A Mpumalanga store found guilty of selling illicit cigarettes has been fined R600,000 and ordered to buy 504 durable, high-quality double-seater desks for local schools. Initially, the shopkeeper and two directors of the business were charged but charges were withdrawn against the individuals after the company directors entered a plea bargain with the state, and only the company was charged. According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Col Magoseni Nkosi, more than 4,000 packets of illicit cigarettes valued at R107,700 were seized during a raid in September 2024. The shopkeeper, Riaz Moolla, 42, was arrested by the Hawks Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit. The two company directors, Fatima Moolla, 62, and Suliman Ismail Moolla, 67, were also charged. The provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Maj-Gen Nico Gerber commended the investigation team, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the judiciary for their hard work on the case. 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are again out of pocket due to their crimes. The community is benefiting from this sentence, and it will definitely help the next generation in their education,' Gerber said. The company was sentenced for contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, contravention of the Customs and Excise Act and contravention of the VAT Act. The company was given three months to comply with the judgment.