Pretoria – A wanted Mozambican kidnapping kingpin has been killed during a police shoot-out in Fourways, Johannesburg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed on Friday.
The SAPS Anti-Kidnapping Task Team traced 40-year-old Mauro Mucambe Junior, who was linked to multiple abductions in Mozambique, to a block of apartments in Fourways during an ongoing search for a kidnapped Pakistani businessman from Pretoria West.
The businessman remains in captivity, and a ransom demand has been made to his family, police said.
According to SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the breakthrough came after officers first raided a residential complex in Carlswald, Midrand, where they arrested two suspects and seized a Mercedes-Benz and a silver Mitsubishi Pajero believed to have been used in the kidnapping.
#sapsHQ The #SAPS has full faith and confidence in the work of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team to rescue the kidnapped businessman.
Since January 2024 to date, the team has arrested more than 170 criminals involved in #Kidnappings for ransom. More than R1.2 MIL has been… pic.twitter.com/xacU9ETNZo
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 21, 2025
The investigation then led the task team to Fourways, where officers came under fire during an attempted arrest. A shoot-out ensued, resulting in the death of one suspect.
“One suspect was fatally wounded and upon further investigation, it was discovered that 40-year-old Mauro Mucambe Junior is a wanted Kidnapping kingpin in Mozambique where he has been linked to several kidnappings. His warrant of arrest was issued by Maputo Police in August 2024,” Mathe said.
“One unlicensed firearm used by the fatally wounded fugitive of justice was seized including 10 rounds of ammunition. Four cellphones, four bank cards have also been seized.”
Mathe said the SAPS remains confident in the anti-kidnapping team’s ability to locate and rescue the Pakistani businessman.
“Since January 2024, the team has arrested more than 170 suspects involved in kidnappings for ransom, recovered over R1.2 million, and rescued more than 100 victims, mainly in Gauteng,” she said.
The unit has also seized more than 40 vehicles used in kidnapping operations and continues to make progress in high-profile cases, including the Olorato Mongale murder investigation. In that case, the task team traced Philangenkosi Makhanya, while the search continues for Bongani Mthimkhulu.
Investigations into the latest kidnapping and related syndicate links are ongoing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
