Cape Town - The Cape Argus can reveal the family of alleged gang boss, Peter Jaggers, who was apparently kidnapped by a Colombian cartel with a ransom demand of R50 million, has travelled to Gauteng to identify a body fitting his description, which was found in a dam.
Jaggers’s body was found in a Free State dam, along with another man.
The men were apparently submerged under water with chains and sandbags and their bodies were in a state of decomposition.
The Hawks remained tight-lipped this week, after numerous queries were made, including to National and Gauteng Police.
Last month, the Hawks confirmed their investigation into Jaggers’ kidnapping, but said they would not state more due to the sensitivity of the case.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, confirmed the Hawks was best-suited for comment when asked about the allegations that Jaggers was presumed dead.
“We are not at liberty to comment on the alleged kidnapping and murder of the person cited in your enquiry as the matter is being probed by the Hawks based in Gauteng,” he said.
It is understood bodily markings such as tattoos may be used in the identification of the body.
Jaggers’s friend, “Mr Zulu KKAFAM Agency”, also took to his TikTok account where he shared his condolences.
“My brother, my friend, until we meet again, fly high,” he wrote, with over 100 comments received, sharing sympathy and shock, while others expressed concerns that “gangsters should not be glorified or celebrated”.
Photographs of Jaggers also circulated on social media from friends and family, expressing their condolences and how they would miss him.
Claims were made that Jaggers, from Netreg, allegedly stole R1 billion worth of cocaine, with rumours spread that he had been killed by the cartel.
Jaggers, who had a stronghold in Netreg, had been attending a meeting with a business partner in Gauteng when he was kidnapped by the cartel.
His wife reported him missing on July 5 at the Bishop Lavis police station after he travelled from Cape Town International Airport on June 30 and flew to OR Tambo International Airport and disappeared at or near the Emperors Palace in Gauteng on July 3.
A voice note was sent to Jaggers’s family, stating a ransom demand.
Earlier it was also alleged that he was not alone when he was abducted, as a man by the name of “William Peterson” was named by another publication as being a victim, but police did not confirm this. He was believed to be the leader of The Terrible Josters gang which has links to the 28s gang.
He is also linked to The Berta Fishing Experience vessel which made headlines in March after six supposed fishermen went missing for several hours at sea.
It was believed the men went fishing and had allegedly run out of fuel.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, also raised concern about the sale of drugs at ports.
He earlier said the missing vessel had been used as a guise to transport drugs. He said the incident was a cover-up and the boat was supposed to pick up a large cocaine shipment along the Southern Route, in which cartels use passing container ships to drop off drug shipments that are left floating in barrels, with the GPS pin sent to local gangs.
He detailed how Jaggers allegedly tried to keep the cocaine he was transporting and claimed the boat had sunk.