South African police have arrested five individuals, including the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, in a car hijacking case that involved the possession of an unlicensed firearm. The arrests occurred on Wednesday at the former president’s Houghton Estate home in Johannesburg, where authorities tracked down a stolen white Toyota Corolla.
According to Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla, the police’s tactical response unit, alerted by a car-tracking company, located the hijacked vehicle at the historic Mandela residence. The car had been stolen earlier that day on Louis Botha Avenue in Oaklands, Johannesburg.
The suspects—four men and one woman—were detained at the property. The female suspect was renting the house and was acquainted with the four men, including Mandela’s grandson. During a search of the premises, officers recovered the unlicensed firearm, but no one was injured in the hijacking.
The five suspects, now facing charges of robbery, kidnapping, and assault, are expected to appear in court soon. The car’s original owner, an Uber driver, had been robbed of the vehicle, R800 in cash, and R300 from his account. While Mandela’s grandson was released without charge due to insufficient evidence, the investigation is ongoing, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will decide on potential prosecution.
The case has been adjourned to next Friday for further investigations and a potential bail hearing. Magistrate orders protect the identities of the accused, including Mandela’s grandson.
