The grandson of South African icon Nelson Mandela has been arrested in connection with a hijacking and firearm-related charges. The arrest has sparked significant public attention, highlighting legal issues surrounding prominent families.
The Houghton property, situated in Johannesburg, once owned by former South African President Nelson Mandela, has become the focus of legal and family disputes, following the arrest of his grandson, Mbuso Mandela, and four others on Wednesday.
Ndaba Mandela, Mbuso’s older brother, revealed that Mbuso had been living on the property for years and had neglected it. He added, “There was a drug problem with Mbuso and his accomplices, but they have all been arrested. I have since removed everyone from the property, leaving only our brother Andile and security.”
Mbuso, along with four other suspects, is scheduled to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The arrests followed a tip-off from a vehicle tracking company about the location of a hijacked white Toyota Corolla taken on Louis Botha Avenue in Oaklands.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla stated that the police recovered the vehicle during a search of the property and found an unlicensed firearm. Four men and a woman were arrested and detained at Norwood Police Station. They face charges of possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the female occupant of the property, who is allegedly acquainted with the male suspects, was renting the house. However, Ndaba Mandela refuted this claim, insisting, “[The property] is not rented out but was neglected by Mbuso.”
This development comes amid ongoing disputes within the Mandela family over the Houghton property. Last year, the Sunday Times reported tensions among Mandela’s grandchildren regarding the possible sale of the house, which had fallen into disrepair. Ndaba had accused his aunt, Makaziwe Mandela, of “trying to take the house away” from him and his brothers.
He reiterated these concerns, alleging, “Aunt Maki [Makaziwe] is responsible for many of the issues. She [allegedly] stole furniture in 2019, and trustees failed to maintain the property, citing that they are not obligated to follow Madiba’s wishes regarding upkeep.”
Ndaba also claimed that renovations planned last year, supported by businessman and philanthropist Collen Mashawana, were blocked by Makaziwe. “Had the renovations been completed, I would have moved back to the house, and none of this would have happened,” he stated.
Attempts to reach Makaziwe Mandela for comment were unsuccessful.
