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Kidnap thugs arrested

McKeed Kotlolo

McKeed Kotlolo

Four men from Mamelodi, Pretoria, who allegedly kidnapped and tortured a Grade 8 pupil were arrested yesterday as they tried to collect a R72000 ransom.

They were nabbed outside the Department of Agriculture in Hamilton Street where the 32-year-old mother of the 14-year-old victim is employed.

The victim had been taken to a house in Mamelodi where he was allegedly assaulted, throttled, stuffed in a fridge and threatened with death.

Police said all four kidnappers live in Mamelodi East.

The drama started on Sunday when the boy was kidnapped by men travelling in a bakkie in Pretoria.

The boy's distraught mother said the kidnappers claimed their bakkie and equipment were stolen and her son knew the culprits.

"On Monday the kidnappers called to say they had my son and demanded R72000.

"At about 9pm on Monday, they said I should collect him from Sasol Garage in Mamelodi. By then I had reported the matter to the police intelligence unit.

"The police collected him and drove him to hospital before we arrived at the garage."

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