Melusi Buthelezi Survives Second Hijacking Incident in Two Years After Ordeal South of Johannesburg

• Melusi Buthelezi was hijacked on Thursday night in a suburb in the south of Johannesburg
• Orlando Pirates' keeper has been declared safe after allegedly being held captive by thieves
• Buthelezi and his brother were injured when they were hijacked and stabbed in Soweto in 2022

Orlando Pirates' goalkeeper is the latest high-profile victim of crime in South Africa.

Melusi Buthelezi was reportedly carjacked in the southern Johannesburg suburb of Thokoza while driving a grey Volkswagen hatchback.

The time of the incident has yet to be disclosed but social media began circulating pleas to assist in finding the victim around sunrise on Friday, March 1.

This is the second time Buthelezi has been a victim of crime in the city, after he and his brother were stabbed and robbed at a filling station in Soweto, as reported by SowetanLive in 2022.

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In the latest incident, the goalkeeper was alleged to have been held captive by the perpetrators but Orlando Pirates has confirmed their man had been released.

Thandi Merafe, Pirates' media officer, told Soccer Laduma:

"The player is safe and unharmed. We are happy that he is safe and unharmed. As a club, we kindly request that Melusi be given space to recover from this traumatic ordeal."

Crime in South Africa

Buthelezi's hijacking occurred roughly 10km from the suburb where Pirates' former star goalkeeper was murdered in Vosloorus, 10 years ago.

The 25-year-old former TS Galaxy player is just one of several thousands of people in South Africa affected by vehicle-related crimes.

In the crime statistics released by the South African Police Service, for the period between October and December 2023, 5 973 cases of carjacking were reported in the country.

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Additionally, 9 539 incidents of car theft where the owner was not present were reported in that three-month period.

Senzo Meyiwa trial continues

Sports Brief earlier reported on the progress of the trial of slain Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa.

The trial has since taken several turns as it goes into multiple years of protracted judicial proceedings.

Meyiwa was 30 years old and had made over 100 appearances for the Bucs before his murder.