A warrant officer attached to the Hawks' Cyber Crime Unit, Xolani Busakwe, was arrested on September 22 after an investigation linked him to two kidnappings in Nelson Mandela Bay. The kidnappings occurred in June and August 2025, with victims Lindsay Knowlden and Theresa Minnie being abducted and released after ransom demands.
The Hawks' Eastern Cape detectives made a significant breakthrough in their investigations, leading them to the DPCI Cyber Crime Unit stationed at SAPS head office in Pretoria. Busakwe, 42, was brought to Gqeberha, where he made his first court appearance. The investigation relates to kidnapping incidents and allegations of performing acts aimed at causing a pattern of criminal gang activity.
The kidnappings in question took place in June and August 2025. Lindsay Knowlden was kidnapped from the Fresh Produce Market in Markman Industrial Area, and her family was extorted for ransom. Theresa Minnie was abducted outside her home in Fairbridge Heights, with both victims being released after a few days.
The similarities between the two incidents led the Hawks to believe that the kidnappings were related and perpetrated by the same group. On July 31, 2025, Tracy Brown, a Gqeberha prosecutor, was shot and killed outside her home. Her murder sent shockwaves through Nelson Mandela Bay and the legal fraternity.
Ayabulela Busakwe, Xolani's brother, and Andile Mathumbu were arrested in August 2025 for Minnie's kidnapping. In September 2025, detectives linked Ayabulela to Brown's murder, and he appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court alongside co-accused Simthembile Xungu.
The Hawks apprehended Thamsanqa David Mthembu in the Free State in December 2025 as the third suspect in Brown's murder. In May 2026, Buhle Mbini, believed to have orchestrated Brown's murder from inside St Albans Prison, was arrested. The allegations are that he faced a charge of illegal possession of a firearm, with Brown as the prosecutor in the matter.
The six men, including the Busakwe brothers, appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court, facing allegations of performing acts aimed at causing a pattern of criminal gang activity. However, not all six men were charged with Brown's murder. The matter was postponed until Monday due to several issues, including the absence of one of the accused, Mbini, and the unavailability of the magistrate and State advocate.
Key points
- A police official attached to the Hawks was arrested for kidnappings and links to the murder of Gqeberha prosecutor Tracy Brown.
- The kidnappings and murder are linked to a pattern of criminal gang activity.
- Six men, including the Busakwe brothers, appeared in court facing various charges.
