The 63-year-old businessman who was rescued from a kidnapping syndicate by police on Wednesday has been identified as Ashraf Kaka, the former attorney of controversial businessman Zunaid Moti, News24 reports.

Kaka was kidnapped by armed men outside a mosque in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, on 5 July.

He was rescued at a house in Lenasia. Kaka is the chairperson of the Safraaz Group of companies, and was a business partner of Moti. The motive for his kidnapping is unknown.

While a ransom of $5m (R91m) was demanded, none was paid.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said a breakthrough came after the police's anti-kidnapping task team traced and arrested two suspects last week.

‘On Wednesday, (information) led a multi-disciplinary team to a hotel in Eastgate and two apartments in Fourways, where they arrested six suspects and seized drugs suspected to be crystal meth worth R300m,’ Mathe added.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the eight people arrested for the kidnapping included three Tanzanian nationals.

Mchunu added that 'there is a growing trend of drugs and the involvement of foreign nationals in SA, and that is very concerning'.

National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola said yesterday more than 250 kidnappers of various nationalities had been arrested in the past two years, and more than 20 businesspeople had been rescued.

Full News24 report