Khaberni - Israeli media reported the killing of the journalist, researcher, and prominent political analyst Stephen Grozd after he was kidnapped in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to the newspaper "Maariv", the incident began on Friday evening at around 18:30. According to a statement from the Community Security Organization (CSO), a report was received about the disappearance of a "prominent member of the community" (Jewish).
Immediately after receiving the report, a joint operations room was formed, comprising the (CSO) organization, the (CAP) security unit, and the South African Police (SAPS).
During the night, the search operation turned into a chase after suspicions escalated that it was a kidnapping incident. In the early hours of Saturday, five suspects connected to the incident were arrested, and Grozd's body (53 years old) was found at a remote site on the outskirts of the city.
The executive director of the "CSO", Liron Sanders, stated that all indications suggest that the incident was a criminal act of "Express Kidnapping" - a rising phenomenon in South Africa where victims are kidnapped for quick cash withdrawals or immediate ransom demands.
Sanders also clarified that there is no evidence so far that Grozd was targeted for political motives or anti-Semitic reasons.
In recent years, Grozd held the position of head of the Governance and African Diplomacy program at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). He was considered one of the leading experts in the world on African review mechanisms and South Africa's foreign policy.
According to "Maariv", Grozd was also a pivotal figure in the life of the Jewish community; having previously worked at the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and was a regular writer for the "SA Jewish Report". And before his death, specifically last Thursday, he published a scathing analytical article about the Middle East and discussions in the South African parliament regarding Iran.
