ActionSA Gauteng premier candidate and youth leader found safe after hijacking

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson and premier candidate Funzi Ngobeni and Chairperson of the party’s Youth Forum Hluphi Gafane were found safe and unharmed in Benoni on Tuesday night are being reported missing following a hijacking earlier on Tuesday night.

Earlier on Tuesday night ActionSA Chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed that both Ngobeni and Gafane had been victims of hijacking and that they were missing.

“ActionSA Leadership is working closely with the families, vehicle tracking company and law enforcement agencies. Everything that can be done to expedite the safe return of our leaders is being done,” Beaumont said in an internal letter addressed to “Colleagues”. Beaumont on Tuesday night confirmed to Daily Maverick the validity of the letter.

Any information or sightings of the vehicle can be sent to Bafana at 069 945 3353

We are working closely with Funzi and Hluphi's families, the vehicle tracking company, and law enforcement agencies.

Please hold Funzi and Hluphi and their families in your thoughts and pray for… pic.twitter.com/ydx9MDGzpE

— ActionSA Gauteng (@ActionSA_GP) May 7, 2024

However, on Tuesday around 11pm Beaumont updated colleagues that both leaders had been found.

“I have been informed by SAPS that Funzi and Hluphi have been found in Benoni. They are being recovered now. We are also so grateful to learn that they are unharmed,” he said.

It is believed the Ngobeni and Gafane were travelling in a Toyota Hilux registration number LC-06TC GP when they were hijacked in Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion. Beaumont said the vehicle was still missing.

The hijacked vehicle that Ngobeni and Gafane were travelling in. (Photo: ActionSA)

“I ask that you hold Funzi and Hluphi, and their families, in your thoughts and pray for their safe return,” Beaumont appealed before they were found.

In a statement released before midnight, Beaumont confirmed that the two leaders were found at about 10.45pm after being hijacked at 7pm. The statement said the pair had been “held” by hijackers, “eventually being located in the Benoni area”.

Beaumont said they were unharmed but “undoubtedly shaken”.

He expressed his “profound gratitude to members of the SAPS who were incredibly responsive”.

He requested that Ngobeni and Gafane be given space to recover with their families before a more substantive briefing is provided on Wednesday. DM