In a major breakthrough against organised crime, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit has arrested a 26-year-old Zimbabwean national linked to a viral cellphone snatching incident and multiple crimes across Gauteng.
The suspect, identified on social media as Nobert Zapambela, gained notoriety after a video circulated online showing him allegedly snatching a woman’s cellphone as she entered the Kream restaurant at Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria. Officers traced him to a flat in Hillbrow, where he was found hiding and reportedly still wearing the same clothing from the video.
During the search, police recovered a cellphone the suspect could not account for. Preliminary investigations have connected him to numerous phone snatching cases province-wide, as well as the March 2025 hijacking of an off-duty JMPD officer reported at Diepsloot SAPS. Authorities allege a Toyota Corolla with cloned registration plates was used in these offences.
The operation expanded after tips led officers to Wanderers Street in Johannesburg Central, resulting in the arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals suspected of operating as part of a syndicate that “flushes” or reprograms stolen devices. Specialised equipment for wiping and reprogramming mobiles was seized.
The primary suspect faces charges of possession of suspected stolen property and is detained at Hillbrow SAPS. The three associates, also charged with the same offence, are held at Johannesburg Central SAPS. All four are expected to appear in court soon.
JMPD Chief of Police Commissioner Patrick Jaca hailed the arrests as a “significant breakthrough” in disrupting organised crime networks. “By linking this suspect to both the viral video and the hijacking of one of our own members, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for criminals in Johannesburg,” Jaca said.
Public Safety MMC Dr Mgcini Tshwaku praised the role of social media in identifying the suspect and urged more victims to come forward. Investigations continue, with further arrests anticipated.
Authorities have called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, highlighting the ongoing threat of opportunistic cellphone thefts feeding into resale syndicates.
