South African Musician Vusi Nova Safe After Hijacking Ordeal
South African afro-pop musician Vusi Nova has been successfully found, after being hijacked early Friday morning – betwen 04h30 and 05h00 – outside his home in Melville, Johannesburg. After anxious calls in Gauteng to look out for the kidnapped artist, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa confirmed he is safe, tweeting: “We’re relieved to hear […]
South African afro-pop musician Vusi Nova has been successfully found, after being hijacked early Friday morning – betwen 04h30 and 05h00 – outside his home in Melville, Johannesburg.
After anxious calls in Gauteng to look out for the kidnapped artist, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa confirmed he is safe, tweeting: “We’re relieved to hear that musician Vusi Nova is safe & call on those with information of his hijacking to assist law enforcement agencies.”
The award-winning musician allegedly suffered a gruelling two-hour hijacking – including being “stripped and beaten”, according to his manager Lance Stehr – before being abandoned in Soweto.
Stehr says police were alerted to his whereabouts at around 06h45.
According to The Sowetan, Vusi had been hijacked with four others. After a shot was fired some escaped but he and another singer were kidnapped. They had been performing at a concert with Ntando. The hijackers included a gang of about four men.
Stehr said: “The other musician was discovered in Riverlea with an ear partially cut off. Vusi is safe and that is all that matters…
“He is pissed off and giving a statement to police at the moment.”
Some social commenters have accused Stehr of engineering the hijacking as a PR stunt. Earlier this month actor Dumi Masilela was killed in a hijacking in Tembisa.
We're relieved to hear that musician Vusi Nova is safe & call on those with information of his hijacking to assist law enforcement agencies. pic.twitter.com/Y65HeBWNpD
— Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) August 25, 2017
BREAKING: It's been reported that South African musician Vusi Nova has been kidnapped outside his home in Melville.#etvSunrise
— Your (@YourNewsOnEtv) August 25, 2017
Musician Ntando, arriving at Vusi Nova's house pic.twitter.com/aQP4yBgfUG
— African Child (@ZikhonaTshona) August 25, 2017
Award-winning singer Vusi Nova has been found alive after he was hijacked and kidnapped: https://t.co/vg7dqZXif5 pic.twitter.com/YdQSVu5Cxe
— Channel O (@ChannelOTV) August 25, 2017
"Vusi Nova" this is me right now 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/mhnr2xAC31
— Bongani Eddie (@_Bongani_Eddie) August 25, 2017