Hawks employee arrested in South Africa on kidnapping suspicion — Daily Maverick
In Gqeberha, South Africa, 42-year-old Xolani Busakwe, an employee of the cyber unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, was arrested. According to Daily Maverick, the Hawks investigation links him to two kidnappings in the Nelson Mandela Bay area in 2025. Busakwe appeared in court alongside five other accused, including his brother Ayabulela Busakwe.
Two kidnappings for ransom
According to the Hawks, on June 21, 2025, Gqeberha resident Lindsay Noulden was kidnapped from a fresh produce market in the Markman industrial area. A ransom was demanded from her family, and the woman was released home several days later.
On August 11 of the same year, Kariega businesswoman Teresa Minnie was kidnapped in the Fairbridge Heights area. She was also released several days later amid ransom demands. The similarity of the circumstances of both incidents gave investigators grounds to suspect that the same group may have been involved.
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Proceedings in the prosecutor’s murder case
On July 31, 2025, state prosecutor Tracy Brown was shot dead in Gqeberha. She was attacked near her home in the Young Park area after leaving the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court, where she worked.
In September 2025, investigators linked Ayabulela Busakwe to Brown’s murder case; he appeared in court alongside Simthembile Xungu. Three months later, Tamsanqa David Mthembu was detained in the case. In May 2026, Buhle Mbini was arrested; investigators consider him the likely organizer of the murder from St Albans Prison. According to the investigation, Brown was the prosecutor in a case in which Mbini was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after an unregistered AK-47 assault rifle was seized.
According to the Hawks, all six accused face allegations related to actions that could have facilitated the group’s systematic criminal activity under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Xolani Busakwe and Andile Matumbu are not charged with Brown’s murder: they are accused of involvement in one or both kidnapping incidents. The hearing was postponed until Monday, and Xolani Busakwe’s defense said it intended to file a bail application. All accused remain in custody; the other five were previously denied bail.
