The police are appealing to anyone with any information to assist the family find the boy.
The father of the kidnapped eMalahleni boy says he always heard stories of people being kidnapped on TV but never thought it would also happen to him.
“These things are happening. We see them on TV and we never thought they would happen to us but the reality is that they are happening,” the 53-year-old Lolo Marite said.
He was reacting to the news of the kidnapping of his 13-year-old son Kathlego Marite who was kidnapped on Sunday – 20 May – by three unknown men.
A ransom letter was delivered to the man’s home in Tasbet Park’s Extension 1 and it demands 15 Bitcoins – which in Rands is approximately R1.5 million.
It says one of the 15 Bitcoins should be paid on 21 May 2018 and the remaining at a later date “to secure your child’s safe release”.
The police have described the case as a first of its kind.
Marite said together with his wife Mirriam they were inside the house when Kathlego left to go play with the neighbours’ kids.
“He said he wanted to take a walk with the dogs and play with the friends. He had the gate key with him,” Marite said.
A gold Toyota Corolla stopped near the kids while they were playing in Frangipani street and one of the three men in it got out and snatched Kathlego.
The car disappeared in the corners of the Tasbet Park suburb.
Marite said when the other kids informed them of the kidnapping they rushed to look where the car disappeared to with their son. A case of kidnapping was the opened with the eMalahleni cops.
“When we came back we found a letter inside a lunch box,” he said on Tuesday.
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The letter says that the family has until 27 May 2018 to pay all 15 Bitcoins to an online address they provided “to secure your child’s safe release”.
“If all these demands are met your child will not be harmed,” the letter reads.
“Failure to comply will result in your child being hanged then decapitated. A copy of the video will be delivered to your,” it says.
Police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi says they are appealing to anybody with any information to call 071 352 6007 or 08600 10111.
(edited by MLM)
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