Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to make the case of Mazwi Mpumelelo Kubheka, a missing businessman from Vosloorus, Gauteng, a priority.
The 27-year-old Kubheka has been unaccounted for since April 2, when he vanished following a dispute related to his successful tuck shop business.
Reports indicate that Kubheka’s business was prospering, drawing interest from individuals who attempted to buy it. Sources claim that he turned down several offers, leading to concerns about potential intimidation due to local business rivalries.
The incident has raised alarm regarding suspected organized groups operating within township economies, particularly affecting the spaza shop sector in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and parts of the Western Cape.
Kubheka’s family fears that his disappearance is tied to these emerging conflicts and is urging for immediate action, emphasizing that the investigation has made little headway since it began.
“I appeal to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Police to urgently prioritise the disappearance of Mazwi Mpumelelo Kubheka. No South African can simply disappear without a swift, thorough, and accountable investigation,” Mashaba stated.
“It has now been over a month, and the family continues to live in pain, confusion and fear. We call on authorities to act urgently and for anyone with information to come forward to help bring him home.”
Mashaba also emphasized the necessity of investigating alleged criminal networks, intimidation strategies, and potential protection rackets that may exist within township business environments.
There are reports of a figure known only as “Zulu” who supposedly pressured Kubheka to relinquish control of his business prior to his disappearance, and this individual is also now missing.
Further allegations suggest that certain private security firms might be shielding specific business interests, while local entrepreneurs are being forcefully removed from their own communities.
Authorities have not yet provided updates regarding the case’s investigation.
