CAPE TOWN, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African parliament on Wednesday expressed concern and called for a "thorough investigation" into the kidnapping incident of one of its members a day earlier.
"Parliament is deeply shocked and concerned by the kidnapping of Mr. Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, a Member of Parliament (MP) and the Deputy President of the United Democratic Movement (UDM)," said a statement issued by the legislature.
According to the statement, Kwankwa was kidnapped on Tuesday while on his way to Cape Town International Airport to catch a flight to attend the presidential inauguration.
A ransom of 10,000 rand (about 555 U.S. dollars) was demanded by the kidnappers and was paid by the UDM, which said their deputy president was now safe and recovering from the trauma, local media reported.
In the statement, the parliament expressed relief at Kwankwa's subsequent rescue and release following "this traumatic ordeal."
However, "this act of criminality is deeply troubling, and parliament calls on law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this attack and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice," said the statement.
"We extend our full support to Mr. Kwankwa, and our thoughts are with him as he comes to terms with the trauma of this incident," it added.
The UDM, a center-left South African political party founded in 1997, gained three seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, in the country's 2024 general elections held on May 29. ■
