News24 | Security guard in custody in connection with kidnapping of Cape Town family of four

A security guard will face kidnapping charges in court on Thursday. (Hawks/Supplied)

• A security guard will face kidnapping charges in court on Thursday.
• He has been linked to the kidnapping of a family of four in Cape Town.
• According to the Hawks, it is alleged that the victims were held at the guard's home.

A security guard has been taken into custody in Franschhoek in connection with the kidnapping of a Cape Town family of four.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, provincial organised crime officers, a hostage negotiation team (HNT) and Crime Intelligence reacted to a tip-off on Tuesday that the family was being held at the security officer's home.

"It is reported that the suspect's home in Samora Machel informal settlement was used as a safe house for the hostages," Hani added.

The 31-year-old security officer was arrested at his work on Tuesday and he is expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of kidnapping and extortion.

News24 previously reported that the family of four was travelling from Kuils River to Helderstroom Prison in Caledon, where the father works as a prison warden, when they were kidnapped.

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Three days later, they were released and rescued at a garage in Philippi East.

Their vehicle was found abandoned in Endlovini.

A police vehicle from Philippi East saw them and gave them a lift to the Kuils River police station.

According to the Hawks, a ransom of R100 000 per person was demanded. The family was also instructed not to involve the police.

"The investigation revealed that the ransom was not paid."

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Instead, an amount of R16 000 was transferred from the hostages' account by the kidnappers.

The security officer is the second person to be arrested in connection with the case.

News24 previously reported that a man was arrested last month. The Hawks said that he could be a member of a syndicate responsible for kidnappings in the Western Cape.

Hani said more arrests were imminent.