Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni say investigations into the kidnapping of Vosloorus spaza shop owner Mazwi Kubheka are ongoing, despite the victim being found alive after nearly a month.
Kubheka, who reportedly disappeared on 2 April 2026 after leaving home to pay rent for his spaza shop, presented himself unharmed at a Vosloorus police station on Saturday night.
VOSLOORUS SPAZA SHOP OWNER MAZWI KUBHEKA FOUND ALIVE
During a media briefing on Sunday, 3 May, Lesufi said law enforcement agencies have identified those believed to be behind the kidnapping but stressed that the case remains active.
“We want to reiterate that this matter is not closed. There are areas that we believe, if we follow up, will assist us in resolving many other cases that are either similar or of the same nature,” Lesufi said.
He added that police had deliberately withheld sensitive information during the investigation to avoid alerting suspects or compromising operations, which may have created the impression that little progress was being made.
Lesufi confirmed that those allegedly involved in the kidnapping include both South African citizens and foreign nationals, including two suspects of Ethiopian origin.
Authorities are still investigating whether the incident is linked specifically to spaza shop-related crime or forms part of broader organised criminal activity.
The case comes amid growing concern over crime targeting small business owners in townships, particularly in the informal retail sector, where spaza shop operators have increasingly reported intimidation, extortion, and violence. In some instances, these crimes have been linked to organised groups competing for control of local markets.
VICTIM KIDNAPPED ON HIS WAY TO THE BANK
According to Lesufi, Mazwi Kubheka was kidnapped while on his way to the bank and was allegedly held at a location believed to be a hijacked building — a phenomenon that has become more common in parts of Gauteng, where abandoned or illegally occupied buildings are often used for criminal activities.
Mthombeni said the victim indicated he was guarded by two Malawian nationals during his captivity.
“As the investigation proceeds, we will be in a position to confirm whether this is related to the spaza shop,” Mthombeni said.
The provincial police commissioner outlined the timeline of the investigation, which began when the case was reported on 3 April as a missing persons inquiry before being escalated to a kidnapping case.
He said police pursued multiple leads, including reviewing CCTV footage, analysing bank transactions, tracing potential suspects, and deploying crime intelligence resources through a Joint Operational Centre.
Kidnappings for ransom and related crimes have been on the rise in South Africa in recent years, prompting increased coordination between law enforcement agencies. Authorities have warned that such crimes are often carefully planned and may involve networks operating across different areas.
