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The Community Security Organization said there were no immediate indications that he was targeted for his Jewish identity.
By Shula Rosen
A South African Jewish researcher was abducted and killed in Johannesburg in what authorities described as an “express kidnapping,” with five suspects arrested in connection with the case, according to News24.
Officials said Steven Gruzd, a senior researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs, went missing Thursday evening, March 27, shortly after leaving a meeting in Johannesburg.
His disappearance at around 6:30 p.m. triggered a large-scale search effort involving police and community security groups.
His body was later recovered following a coordinated search effort. Investigators said one of the suspects led authorities to the location after being taken into custody.
Gruzd served as head of the institute’s African Governance and Diplomacy Programme and was described as a Jewish South African intellectual.
The South African Institute of International Affairs called him a “brilliant mind” and a “gentle spirit,” saying his death leaves a significant void in both the institution and the broader policy community.
The Community Security Organization (CSO) said Gruzd’s family alerted them after his disappearance, and initial assessments pointed to a kidnapping for ransom and theft.
The group said there were no immediate indications that he was targeted for his Jewish identity.
Authorities said the case fits the pattern of an “express kidnapping,” a term used for abductions carried out for ransom or theft over a short period of time.
CSO said none of the suspects arrested have been linked to terrorist organizations or extremist motives.
Police have not released further details about the suspects or the circumstances of the killing. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
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