Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi was hijacked and held hostage on Thursday night in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni. The former TS Galaxy show stopper, who turns 26 this month, was driving his grey VW when the incident happened. 

This was Buthelezi's second hijacking in two years. In 2022, he fell victim to hijackers while travelling with his brother . The brothers suffered stab wounds and were both hospitalised with his brother left in a critical state. Buthelezi was hijacked a day before Pirates was due to travel to Limpopo to face Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon. Pirates' communication officer Thandi Merafe confirmed the incident to Soccer Laduma saying, "Yes, it is true. Our goalkeeper Mr Melusi Buthelezi was involved in a highjacking last night. The player is safe and unscathed. We are happy that he is safe and unharmed, and further like to make an appeal that Melusi be given space to recover from this traumatic ordeal."

Police confirmed that the incident took place yesterday round 20:40 pm. According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the Nqutho-born keeper was sitting with his friends on the street when three unknown men approached them. "The suspects robbed them of their personal belongings such as wallets and cellphones before forcefully taking one of the victims and driving off with his vehicle," Nevhuhulwi said. She added that Buthelezi was returned safe. "The victim has since returned unharmed this morning, 01 March 2024 ,and a case of hijacking and kidnapping have been opened," she added.