The kidnapping of businessmen for ransom in South Africa doesn’t seem to be slowing down, as another kidnap has been reported.

According to investigations, the son of a Mozambican mining magnate and his childhood friend are allegedly part of a network of wealthy Mozambicans orchestrating SA’s high-profile kidnappings, assisted by corrupt police officers and cash-in-transit robbers.

Alarmingly, the investigation has revealed that teams of police officers from crime intelligence, the Hawks, traffic departments, and flying squads are all complicit in providing “information, uniforms, weapons and facilitate escapes on major road networks or conduct fake roadblocks to kidnap victims”.

These high-profile kidnapping syndicates have managed to secure more than R750 million in ransoms since 2017, with the money going towards funding their luxurious lifestyles.

Recently, a hardware store owner in Vereeniging was allegedly abducted on Thursday morning.

CCTV footage from Fred’s Hardware in De Deur Estates reveals the moment the man was abducted outside of his own store.

He appears to have been snatched by four suspects, with three grabbing him and one driving the escape vehicle.

In the 53-second-long video, the victim is seen climbing out of his white bakkie and standing outside his shop at 07:33. The parking lot was empty at the time, and the victim’s car was the only one there.

Just outside the parking lot, two suspects – one in a blue jacket, black pants and cap and the other in a cream jacket, powder blue jeans and a cap – can be seen approaching the victim.

A few moments later, a bakkie, allegedly displaying a false number plate (FT00BC GP), pulls up.

Another man, presumed to be one of the suspects’ accomplices, is seen climbing out of the passenger seat and assisting the other two suspects in bundling the victim into the vehicle.

The victim can be seen in the footage, looking bewildered as he raises his hands to surrender.

They force the victim onto the backseat, while the suspect wearing the powder blue jeans makes his way to the passenger seat. On the other opposite passenger seat, the suspect with the blue jacket climbs in.

The bakkie then takes off with the victim.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the police could not comment on an active kidnapping case as it would jeopardise the victim’s life.

Likewise, the victim’s brother has not made a statement as the family is waiting for police to get involved.

Watch video of the moment below: