A 31-year-old man accused of staging his own kidnapping is expected to appear in court on Friday after being found safe at a lodge on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast.
According to authorities, the man contacted his family earlier this week claiming he had been abducted and that his captors were demanding a R3 million ransom for his release.
His vehicle was later discovered abandoned in the KwaDukuza area, prompting the family to alert police.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Simphiwe Mhlongo said an investigation led officers to a nearby lodge where they found the man — alive, unharmed, and very much not kidnapped.
“He was charged with extortion, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud,” Mhlongo confirmed. “He is expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court.”
The incident has sparked concern over the misuse of police resources and the growing trend of false reporting in the province.