A barber working at a salon along Voortrekker Road in Parow has allegedly been abducted by seven men who accused him of stealing an iPhone 13, leaving his colleagues fearing for his safety as days pass without any word of his whereabouts.
Mwanza Wabeya Matadi, 26, known as Ditro, was allegedly forced into a Toyota Avanza on Sunday, 18 October, shortly after a group of men arrived at Grace Beauty Salon claiming to have tracked a stolen cellphone to the premises.
Matadi has not been seen or heard from since the incident.
A four-minute-long video capturing the commotion outside the salon shows several men entering the premises while a group gathers outside.
The footage appears to show a police officer leaving the salon. Shortly afterwards, several men appear to restrain Matadi, holding onto him as they forcibly lead him towards a vehicle parked directly in front of the business.
Colleague describes confrontation over iPhone 13
The footage shows the group forcing Matadi into the vehicle before taking him away.
According to a female colleague, the ordeal began when she received a missed call and a voice note in French from Matadi, warning her that several men had arrived at the salon and were threatening to break down the premises.
“That Sunday morning, I saw a missed call. I wasn’t able to answer. The voice note was in French. He said there were guys there who wanted to break down the place because they had tracked their iPhone 13 to the shop.”
The colleague said she immediately made her way to the salon, where she was confronted by seven men who allegedly claimed to be from Philippi.
“I came to the shop and allowed them to search the whole shop. We then called the police who were close by.”
Despite being allowed to search the premises, the men allegedly continued questioning Matadi about the missing phone.
According to the colleague, the group later claimed that the location of the cellphone had changed and was no longer showing at the salon.
“They then said they could see that the location of the phone was no more at the shop.”
Police investigate missing-persons case
However, instead of leaving, the men allegedly grabbed Matadi and forced him into their vehicle.
“They dragged Ditro and pushed him in the car. They said I must follow. I said, how can I?”
The colleague said the men drove off with Matadi, and there has been no communication from them since.
“We didn’t get any phone calls for ransom. It just went quiet after his kidnapping.”
Matadi, who is unmarried and has no children, had been working at the salon for approximately four months.
His colleague described him as an outspoken young man who generally kept to himself while at work.
Family appeals for information
“Ditro talks a lot. He stayed inside the salon, but I’ve never seen or experienced him stealing or being disrespectful.”
The colleague said a case had been opened at Parow SAPS following the incident.
With no ransom demand, communication or indication of Matadi’s whereabouts, those who know him are becoming increasingly desperate for answers.
“I am worried sick, scared. I don’t even know what to think. I don’t know if he is alive or not, and for something that we know he didn’t do.”
Matadi’s older brother Potage Muhuku who is in Democratic Republic of the Congo told Cape Argus that the family are very worried and live in anguish.
“Ditro is a calm, humble, respectful and hardworking young man. He leads a peaceful life, avoids problems and is devoted to his work and earning an honest living.”
How to share information
Muhuku said since Matadi’s arrival in South Africa, he has learned the profession of hairdresser for men and specialised in this field.
“He always tried to move forward in life on his own.
“Today we are very worried and live in anguish, because we don’t know where he is or under what conditions he is being held. We hope with all our hearts that he will be found safe.
“We appeal to anyone who may have information that can help find him, as well as to the authorities and people of good will, to make every effort to shed light on this disappearance.”
SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that the matter was being investigated as a missing persons case.
“Kindly be advised that Parow police are investigating a missing persons case and not a kidnapping for the person mentioned in. The circumstances are under investigation.”
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation or who knows Matadi’s whereabouts should contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously through the MySAPS mobile application.
