By: Natasha Archary
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) has shared disturbing footage of a kidnapped KwaZulu-Natal man being tortured with an angle grinder, in order to demand an R150K ransom from his family.
The video shows, 33-year old Scelo Shabalala who was abducted in Inanda, KZN 18-days ago tied and tortured with the grinder.
Shabalala was snatched by armed men who were in 3 vehicles while travelling with two friends in a Tata Indicar.
According to RUSA, Shabalala’s friends managed to escape but left Shabalala behind. Their abandoned vehicle was later retrieved when police accompanied Shabalala’s friend to the scene.
Shabalala’s family then received a 7-second video of him being tortured with panel-beating equipment.
A picture of blood on his restrained feet was also sent to the family, along with a reported demand for R150K ransom.
The ransom demands continued for 4-days but the family say they have not heard from the men who took Shabalala since.
RUSA says a case of kidnapping has been opened with the South African Police Services, but the family have little hope that they will find Shabalala as there is so little information available.
Shabalala’s phone was used to send his family the video and pictures but it is unclear why the last known location of the cellphone was not traced.
It’s been reported that his cellphone was switched off shortly after the messages were sent.
Details are still sketchy at this point, but Shabalala was last seen on 05 August in Dube Village, Inanda.
The family have not shared details of the handover terms were, or whether they were able to secure the funds.
Scelo Shabalala lives in Brookdale, Phoenix and was last seen wearing a pink t-shirt and blue jeans.
Due to the nature of the video, it will not be attached to this article.
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