KEY POINTS
- Notorious fugitive Linda Hlongwa Mjinja wanted since 2020, was arrested in Midrand for firearm charges and a recent double murder in Pinetown.
- The suspect allegedly ran an extortion ring targeting township businesses, with police urging more victims to come forward.
- The arrest ends a five-year manhunt and may help solve several other violent crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.
After nearly five years on the run, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most wanted criminal suspects Mjinja has finally been apprehended. Linda Hlongwa, known by his aliases Mjinja and Putin, was arrested in Midrand on Tuesday afternoon through a joint operation between KZN and Gauteng police units.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KZN police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest: “Mjinja, the self-proclaimed lion who was one of our most wanted suspects, has been on the loose since July 2020 when he failed to appear in court for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.” The suspect now faces additional charges for the brutal double murder of his girlfriend and her mother in Pinetown earlier this year.
Extortion ring targeted vulnerable township businesses
Investigators believe Hlongwa operated an extensive extortion network targeting small businesses across Mariannhill and surrounding townships. “Mjinja is believed to have been extorting money from scholar transport owners, tuck shop owners and taxis,” Netshiunda revealed. The police have urged other victims to come forward, stating “so justice can be served.”
Community leaders have welcomed the arrest, describing years of terror under Hlongwa’s alleged reign. A Mariannhill tuck shop owner, who requested anonymity, told TimesLIVE: “He would come every Friday demanding his share. Those who refused got visits from his enforcers.” The arrest comes amid growing concerns about organized crime’s stranglehold on township economies.
Police sources indicate Hlongwa may be linked to at least six other unsolved murders in the province. His capture followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, culminating in Tuesday’s precision operation at a Midrand safe house.
Sowetanlive reports that Mjinja is expected to be transferred to KZN to face multiple charges that could keep him behind bars for life.
