---
title: "Kidnapped Eastern Cape business leader Kelvin Naidoo ‘rescued alive’ in early hours — police"
description: "The Nelson Mandela Bay business leader and director of battery manufacturer Auto X had been held for ransom for six days."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "NEWSFLASH"
author: "Estelle Ellis"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/estelle-ellis/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-25-kidnapped-e-cape-business-leader-kelvin-naidoo-rescued-alive/"
published: "2024-07-25T08:46:25"
updated: "2025-05-11T15:30:28"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 221
---

# Kidnapped Eastern Cape business leader Kelvin Naidoo ‘rescued alive’ in early hours — police

> The Nelson Mandela Bay business leader and director of battery manufacturer Auto X had been held for ransom for six days.

By Estelle Ellis · Published 25 July 2024, 10:46 SAST · Updated 11 May 2025, 17:30 SAST

## Key points
- Nelson Mandela Bay business leader Kelvin Naidoo miraculously "rescued alive" after being kidnapped, with police set to reveal details of his safe return soon.
- Nelson Mandela Bay business leader Kelvin Naidoo rescued alive after being kidnapped at work.
- Police to release details of Naidoo's safe return soon.
- Naidoo, deputy president of Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, kidnapped last Friday morning.
- Suspects wearing balaclavas forced Naidoo into a bakkie and demanded ransom for his release.

## Content

Six days after he was kidnapped when he arrived at work, Nelson Mandela Bay business leader Kelvin Naidoo was “rescued alive”, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana confirmed this morning.

Police would release the details of Naidoo’s safe return later.

“There is confirmation that Kelvin Naidoo was rescued alive, details will follow shortly,” he said.

Naidoo (51) – who is also deputy president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber – was kidnapped last Friday morning at about 6am from battery manufacturer Auto X’s factory on Lindsay Road, Korsten in Gqeberha.

He had arrived at the factory in his black Mercedes-Benz.

**Read more:**[Despair after kidnap of Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber deputy president](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-21-despair-after-kidnap-of-nelson-mandela-bay-business-chamber-deputy-president/)

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said that, as Naidoo approached the factory an Nissan NP200 bakkie bumped into his car, forcing him to stop. Another bakkie stopped behind him and five suspects wearing balaclavas got out.

They pulled Naidoo from his vehicle, forced him into the bakkie and drove off, leaving the NP200 and Naidoo’s car at the scene.

The police later found out that the bakkie had been reported as hijacked in Motherwell in June.

A demand for ransom in return for Naidoo’s release was made a few hours later. The investigation was taken over by the Hawks soon after. **DM**

*This is a developing story.*