Police have arrested Mbuso Mandela, 33, one of the grandsons of Nelson Mandela, during a raid on the late president’s former residence in the affluent suburb of Houghton, Johannesburg. The arrest is linked to a carjacking and possession of an unlicensed firearm, according to a report by The Times UK.
The raid occurred after police tracked a stolen Toyota Corolla to the iconic property, which Nelson Mandela lived in during the latter part of his presidency. Officers recovered the hijacked vehicle and an illegal firearm, apprehending five suspects, including Mbuso Mandela.
Xolani Fihla, a police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating, “Acting on this information, officers proceeded to a residence in Houghton, previously owned by former president Nelson Mandela. Upon entering the property, officers recovered the hijacked vehicle and apprehended five individuals: four males and one female.”
Mbuso Mandela, who is due to appear in court on Friday, is no stranger to controversy. He has faced previous arrests on allegations of rape, failure to pay child maintenance, and illegal firearm possession. A video released by the police shows him being escorted from the property, which has reportedly fallen into disrepair since Mandela’s death in 2013.
The home, once a symbol of Mandela’s legacy, has been at the center of family disputes. Mandela’s descendants, including Mbuso, have resisted proposals to convert the residence into a museum, emphasizing its role as a family home.
This arrest adds to a series of public conflicts within the Mandela family. A court case over the control of Mandela’s family trust emerged soon after his death, further highlighting divisions among his heirs.
Additionally, tensions have arisen over artifacts from Mandela’s residence, including the key to his jail cell on Robben Island. A 2022 attempt to auction more than 100 of these items in New York was halted after South African cultural officials intervened. Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, who initiated the sale, defended her actions by stating that the proceeds would fund a memorial garden in Mandela’s birthplace in Eastern Cape.
