ActionSA confirms recovery of members after ‘heartbreaking’ kidnapping

JOHANNESBURG – ActionSA Gauteng premiership candidate Funzi Ngobeni and the party’s youth forum chairperson Hluphi Gafane have been found safe and well following a kidnapping incident.

This was confirmed by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba after sharing the party’s X post.

“Funzi and Hluphi have been recovered. We can confirm that they are in good health despite what must have been a harrowing experience. “They, along with their families, are deeply moved by the love and prayers of the ActionSA family, as well as the overwhelming support of South Africans,” it reads.

The couple were abducted in an alleged kidnapping, outside Gafane’s home in Centurion, by armed men on Tuesday night.

Mashaba said Eyewitness News that Ngobeni was visiting Gafane when the gunmen approached.

Armed men ordered Ngobeni and Gafane into the back of Ngobeni’s vehicle.

Mashaba spoke with Eyewitness News shortly after the news broke last night.

“Funzi had gone to look for something at Hluphi’s house. When they were leaving, I don’t know how many people came, but these guys came with guns, put them in the back of Funzi’s car and took them away.”

Mashaba declined to speculate whether the incident was politically motivated or simply a crime.

“You know, in this country, because of the high levels of crime, I wouldn’t want to speculate; I don’t think it’s fair for me to speculate. But one thing is certain: they have been kidnapped or kidnapped with firearms.”

Ngobeni’s wife opened a kidnapping case at Olievenhoutbosch police station in Centurion.