Orrin Singh4 July 2024 | 14:42

Man accused of kidnapping a Portuguese butchery owner abandons bail

Dube faces charges of kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of the Immigration Act.

Man accused of kidnapping a Portuguese butchery owner abandons bail

Bongani Dube appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on 4 July 2024 on charges of kidnapping and extortion. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN

JOHANNESBURG - The case against a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national accused of kidnapping a Portuguese butchery owner in Roodepoort, on Gauteng's West Rand, has been postponed.

Bongani Dube appeared briefly in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Thursday afternoon.

This after police arrested him on Monday for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping 49-year-old businessman last week.

EXCLUSIVE | Portuguese butchery owners targeted in Gauteng kidnappings

Dube faces charges of kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of the Immigration Act.

This after he was nabbed by police on Monday in connection with the kidnapping from outside his business premises in Florida.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of R10 million.

Dube abandoned his bail and opted for Legal Aid representation.

Police said that more arrests were imminent.

On Tuesday, EWN exclusively reported that at least 20 Portuguese butchery owners and their staff had been kidnapped in Gauteng since January last year.

Dube will remain in police custody until his next appearance on 11 July.