Police in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, have found the body of Zimbabwean businessman Evans Katumba, who was kidnapped in Durban last month with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of R2.5 million, with indications he was shot before his death. Ransom demands have been made.
The body was badly decomposed but was wearing the clothes Katumba was wearing when he was kidnapped.
According to media reports from South Africa, Katumba, a diesel fuel trader, was kidnapped by men armed with AK47 rifles on March 22, and has not been seen or heard from since.
Reports indicated that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of R2.5 million for Katumba’s release.
The family managed to collect R1.5 million which was reportedly handed over to the kidnappers. However, even after the partial payment, Katumba was not released, raising concerns among his family and friends.
Last Thursday morning, authorities in Hammersdale, a town west of Durban, found the body of a man with two bullet wounds. However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, the identity cannot be confirmed immediately.
The family is now waiting for DNA confirmation to identify the deceased. However, all the clothes found on the deceased matched what Katumba was wearing at the time of his kidnapping.
The South African Police and the Hawks team began investigating the case after submitting a report.
Katumba, who is in his 40s, is known to friends by his gregarious nickname Vardy. He arrived in South Africa about 10 years ago and worked at a fuel service station before setting up his own fuel supply company.
In December last year, Katumba reportedly bought his latest luxury car, a Mercedes G63 worth R3.5 million. In February this year, he bought Yogo nightclub, one of Durban’s top clubs and the venue for what would have been popular rapper AKA’s final concert before his murder last year.
It is alleged that a week after he bought the Yogo nightclub, there was an attempt to kidnap him while driving his G63. He was stopped by a police car and an officer came to speak to him, before he returned to the police car to check something.
While Katumba was waiting for the officer to return, suddenly random people tried to open the car doors and he ran away.
Media reports suggested he went to the UK and returned in early March to begin rebranding his club and around the same time also bought a Ferrari and an Amarok.
On March 22, Katumba received a phone call from someone who wanted to meet him. It is reported that he left his home in Yellowwood Park and along the way picked up an artist who was scheduled to perform at a nightclub later that evening.
When they arrived at the place where this meeting was supposed to take place, they were met by unknown assailants armed with AK47 rifles and took him and his new Amarok car, which had not yet been installed with a tracking device.
The artist who was traveling with Katumba remained at the scene.
A report was made to Durban Central Police Station on 25 March under case number 1029/3/2024. Announce
