Abanqobi’s tour bus hijacked and stripped after 15 years of service
Renowned gospel group Abanqobi are reeling after losing their long-serving tour bus in a hijacking incident that left two of their members shaken.
The group revealed the ordeal in a heartfelt Facebook post, writing: “Kwaphela kanjaloke ngebhasi la 15 years. Inkulu into esiyenze kubantu esingayazi. Kodwa kona Abanqobi abayi ndawo. Sibonga imikhuleko.”
Translated, the message read: “After 15 years together, our beloved bus is gone. Though it’s hard to understand, our hearts and mission remain unshaken. Thank you for your prayers.”
The hijacking happened on the evening of Tuesday, August 26, while the bus was being driven back from a service.
According to group leader Mandla Ntuli, member Sbusiso “Lamont” Bhengu was behind the wheel when another vehicle blocked the road.
“They were held at gunpoint and forced out of the bus. The suspects drove off with the bus and their cellphones,” Ntuli explained.
Bhengu quickly alerted the police, who later located the bus in Wyebank during the night. But the discovery brought no relief—by the time it was found, the vehicle had been stripped bare.
“It had been stripped of doors, engine, seats, and wheels. We don’t know who is behind this. The bus is branded, everybody knows it, especially in Umlazi township. It has been with us for 15 years,” Ntuli said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that officers in KwaNdengezi are investigating a carjacking case linked to the incident.
Abanqobi, who have been a pillar in South Africa’s gospel scene since the early 2000s, are best known for their harmonies that fuse traditional Zulu sounds with contemporary gospel.
Over the years, their tour bus has been more than just transport, it carried the group, their instruments, and their message of hope across KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.
Since news of the hijacking broke, fans, fellow gospel artists, and community members have flooded the group with messages of support, promising prayers and solidarity during this setback.
