Police in KwaZulu Natal have discovered a body believed to be that of missing Zimbabwean businessman Evans Katumba, who was abducted in Durban last month.
Katumba’s disappearance sent shockwaves through the Durban community after he was forcefully taken by armed assailants wielding AK47s on March 22, 2024.
Reports indicated that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of R2,5 million for Katumba’s release.
The family managed to raise R1.5 million which was reportedly handed over to the kidnappers.
However, even after the partial payment, Katumba was not released, intensifying concerns among his family and friends.
The grim discovery came to light on Thursday morning when authorities in Hammersdale, a town west of Durban, recovered the body of a man bearing two bullet wounds.
According to sources close to the family, the body had been found approximately six days prior.
Read | Ex-Truck Driver Turned Tycoon, Evans Katumba, Kidnapped; R2.5m Ransom Demanded
However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, positive identification could not be immediately confirmed.
The source said the family was awaiting DNA confirmation to establish the identity of the deceased.
Nonetheless, there were strong indications that the recovered body could indeed be that of Katumba.
The family member noted that all clothing found on the deceased matched what Katumba was wearing at the time of his abduction, adding weight to the grim possibility.
The discovery has sent shock and sorrow rippling through the Zimbabwean and Durban communities, as many are hoping for Katumba’s safe return.
Now, as the investigation unfolds and authorities work to confirm the identity of the deceased, the loved ones of Evans Katumba are left grappling with the devastating reality of his potential fate.
The circumstances surrounding Katumba’s abduction and subsequent demise raise serious concerns about the safety and security of individuals, particularly foreign nationals, in the country given the number of foreign businessman abducted for ransom recently.
