By Rorisang Modiba
- Sbusiso “Lamont” Bhengu and another member were forced out of the branded bus before hijackers drove it away and gutted it in Wyebank.
- KwaZulu-Natal police have opened a carjacking case while Abanqobi say the 15-year-old bus carried their instruments and music across the province.
Renowned gospel group Abanqobi lost their long-serving tour bus after a hijacking in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday night, 26 August.
The bus was on its way back from a service when another vehicle blocked the road. Group member Sbusiso “Lamont” Bhengu was driving. According to leader Mandla Ntuli, Bhengu and a fellow passenger were threatened at gunpoint, forced out of the bus, and robbed of their cellphones.
The hijackers drove off with the vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Wyebank. By the time police recovered it, the bus had been stripped down to its shell. The engine, wheels, doors and seats were gone.
“It has been with us for 15 years. The bus is branded, everybody knows it, especially in Umlazi township. We don’t know who is behind this,” Ntuli said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that officers in KwaNdengezi are investigating a carjacking case.
Abanqobi shared their loss in a Facebook post, writing in isiZulu: “Kwaphela kanjaloke ngebhasi la 15 years. Inkulu into esiyenze kubantu esingayazi. Kodwa kona Abanqobi abayi ndawo. Sibonga imikhuleko.”
Translated, the post reads: “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 group, active since the early 2000s, is known for blending traditional Zulu sounds with modern gospel harmonies. The bus had been more than just transport, it carried the group, their instruments and their message of hope to audiences across KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.
Pictured above: Burnt bus.
Image source: @Abanqobi
