Johannesburg, South Africa – Former President Nelson Mandela’s grandson has been arrested in connection with a car hijacking.
Mbuso (30) was apprehended at a property in Houghton once owned by the late anti-apartheid icon.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the arrests followed a tip-off from a vehicle tracking company, which located a white Toyota Corolla hijacked on Wednesday along Louis Botha Avenue in Oaklands.
Police recovered the vehicle at the Houghton property, where they also discovered an unlicensed firearm.
Mbuso, along with four other suspects—three men and a woman—were detained and are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Charges include possession of a hijacked motor vehicle and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The Houghton property, a focal point of Mandela’s legacy, has been at the center of disputes among family members.
Ndaba Mandela, Mbuso’s older brother, revealed that Mbuso had been living on the property for years and had neglected its upkeep.
“There was a drug problem involving Mbuso and his accomplices, but they all got arrested,” said Ndaba. “I have since evicted everyone except our brother Andile and the security team.”
Ndaba also highlighted long-standing tensions with their aunt, Makaziwe Mandela, who is accused of blocking renovations and neglecting the family’s shared responsibilities.
Late last year, a report surfaced of an internal family battle over the property, with some Mandela grandchildren threatening legal action to prevent its sale.
“Aunt Maki is to blame for most of the issues,” Ndaba alleged. “She stole furniture in 2019, and the trustees have failed to fulfill Madiba’s wishes to maintain the property.”
Attempts to reach Makaziwe Mandela for comment were unsuccessful.