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Five suspects, including the grandson of former South African president, Nelson Mandela, were arrested following the recovery of a hijacked Uber vehicle at Mandela’s historic Houghton residence in Sandton.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Four of the suspects, excluding Mandela’s grandson, appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s court on Friday, January 10.
The grandson, who is known to Independent Media but remains unnamed pending confirmation from the South African Police Service (SAPS), is embroiled in a case that raises concerns not only about the safety of citizens but the alarming state of a once-illustrious family home.
According to police reports, the hijacked vehicle was taken last night in Benoni, with the suspects believed to have driven around while still possessing the vehicle’s driver.
Details regarding the driver’s fate remain unclear, although it has been reported that he is currently at a police station in Ekurhuleni, preparing to file an official hijacking case.
The four suspects face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstance, kidnapping, and assault.
Prosecutor Tshepo Mahange kaMzizi told the court that these were the preferred charges at this stage.
He said five people were arrested but only four were appearing at this stage.
According to Mahange kaMzizi, the prosecution will not be able to add the fifth person at this stage until further investigations.
The charges relate to the robbery and assault of an Uber driver earlier this week, the court heard.
Mahange kaMzizi asked the court to postpone the matter to next Friday, January 17, for an identity parade to be held over the weekend and further investigations.
The four suspects opted to be represented by Legal Aid and their legal representative objected to the postponement, which he argued should not be more than seven days as this would violate their right to apply for bail.
The Legal Aid representative said the ID parade should have been conducted “there and then” when his clients were arrested.
Mahange kaMzizi said the State was entitled to seven days.
“The ID parade goes either way, it may assist applicants (accused) in that bail application or it may assist the state,” the prosecutor explained.
Magistrate Johan Herman remanded the matter until next Friday for bail application.
The court ordered that the suspects not be identified in any manner including publishing their faces, names, race, and gender until their second appearance as requested by Mahange kaMzizi.
In addition, Herman also ordered that Friday’s court proceedings not be recorded live and the names of the suspects not disclosed to anyone.
Mahange kaMzizi indicated that the prosecution will oppose bail and warned the suspects that they face between 15 and 25 years in prison should they be found guilty and whether the incident was their first, second, or third offence.
Xolani Fihla, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, whose officers arrested the group, referred inquiries about why the grandson did not appear in court to the SA Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.
