South Africa: Mother Of Kidnapped Zimbabwean Businessman Speaks Out
Otilia Gova, the mother of a Centurion businessman who was kidnapped while driving home last week has said she is devastated by the development.
Thirty-five-year-old Ranga Gova was kidnapped last Thursday just minutes away from his home while driving his wife’s car.
Ranga was at the Midstream Mediclinic traffic lights when he was hijacked and kidnapped.
His wife, Mamelo, said the incident was caught on CCTV cameras and an Uber driver and a security guard witnessed the ordeal.
The footage shows Gova driving up to the intersection in a grey Mercedez-Benz CLA200D. A vehicle stopped next to him while a second parked behind him.
The suspects exited the two cars, grabbed Gova and bundled him into a silver vehicle. The driver then made a U-turn and drove off. A man got into the Mercedes and the second vehicle sped off.
Speaking to IOL, Otilia said she flew in from Zimbabwe as soon as she heard of her son’s kidnapping. She said:
When I came out of church, I called him and he told me he was at the golf course having coffee. After coffee, he was going to go home.
Before I got home, I received a call from his wife. She was crying. Then I asked her what had gone wrong and she told me Ranga has been hijacked and kidnapped.
I feel very devastated. I am at a loss for words. I don’t know who would want to hurt my son. As far as I know, from primary, secondary and even at university, he has never had any squabbles with anyone even his friends can vouch for him.
The local police have been very helpful since I got here. They have been to the house several times to update us about the ongoing investigation. They have been sympathetic towards us.
She urged the community to come forward if they had any information that could assist in finding her son.
Meanwhile, Mamelo said the kidnapping has been really hard on the family.
The couple has been together for almost six years and has a two-year-old daughter.
Mamelo said the Mercedes was recovered on Saturday, a short distance from their estate. Olifantsfontein police are investigating a case of kidnapping.
