Restaurant manager held for ransom

The Terrace at D’Aria restaurant. Picture: Facebook

Two men, one armed with a panga and the other a knife, robbed a Durbanville restaurant and held the manager for ransom.

According to Durbanville police spokesman Captain Marchell Rhode, the manager of The Terrace at D’Aria Winery on Tygerberg Valley Road was locking up at 12.05am on Sunday September 6 when the two men accosted him.

“The suspects threatened the manager to open the safe, where they stole R6 000, before putting him in his own vehicle and leaving the scene.”

Police say the robbers drove towards Kuils River and told the manager to call the restaurant’s owner to demand money for his release.

According to Captain Rhode, the manager escaped from the moving vehicle and ran to the nearby police station.

“With the information given by the manager, police were able to track the vehicle to Greenville, Fisantekraal where the two suspects were arrested for business robbery, motor vehicle theft, kidnapping and extortion.”

When the Northern News phoned the restaurant, they said they were pleased that the manager, who was unavailable to give comment, had escaped unharmed.