Former International Relations Minister and Nelson Mandela University Chancellor Dr Naledi Pandor was robbed at gunpoint at her Valleria home on Friday evening 22 May 2026 by three armed suspects who fled in the family’s Toyota Cross. Image: Supplied
Three armed suspects allegedly forced entry into the Johannesburg home of former International Relations Minister and Nelson Mandela University Chancellor Dr Naledi Pandor on Friday evening, confronting her in her bedroom and holding her husband at gunpoint in the bathroom before ransacking the property and fleeing in the family’s vehicle.
The South African Police Service is investigating a house robbery at the Valleria home of former International Relations Minister and current Nelson Mandela University Chancellor Dr Naledi Pandor following an incident on Friday evening 22 May 2026. Three armed suspects allegedly forced entry into the property at approximately 9pm and proceeded to confront Pandor directly in her bedroom while a second suspect held her husband in the bathroom as the house was searched and ransacked.
Several items were stolen during the robbery including televisions, a laptop and mobile phones. The suspects fled the scene in the family’s Toyota Cross. No injuries were reported. No arrests have been made and a manhunt is underway.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, three armed suspects allegedly forced entry into Pandor’s Valleria property on Friday night. The suspects proceeded directly into the residence where they split up, with one suspect confronting Pandor in the bedroom and another allegedly holding her husband in the bathroom while the home was searched. Additional suspects were involved in ransacking the property and removing items of value.
After stealing the items, the suspects fled the scene in the family’s Toyota Cross. The vehicle was subsequently recovered by police but further details about its recovery had not been confirmed at the time of publication. Mathe confirmed that a case of house robbery had been opened and that the investigation was ongoing.
Who Is Naledi Pandor
Dr Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor is one of South Africa’s most distinguished political figures. Born on 7 December 1953, she served as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress from 1994 to 2024, holding multiple cabinet positions across successive administrations including Minister of Education, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Home Affairs and most recently Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 to 2024.
Since leaving Parliament following the 2024 national elections, Pandor was appointed Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University on 7 January 2026, with her inauguration into the role taking place on 8 April 2026. She has also served as chair of the board of trustees of the Nelson Mandela Foundation since October 2024.
South Africans React
The robbery has drawn widespread reaction from South Africans online, with many noting that the targeting of a former senior cabinet minister in her own home underlines the severity of South Africa’s violent crime crisis. Commentary across social media reflects concern about the brazenness of an attack involving three armed suspects who entered a private residence and physically confronted the occupants at gunpoint.
South Africa recorded more than 6,900 house robberies in the third quarter of the 2024 and 2025 financial year alone according to SAPS crime statistics, making it one of the country’s most prevalent and fastest growing categories of serious and violent crime. The robbery at Pandor’s home is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving prominent South Africans that have kept violent crime in the national spotlight.
What Happens Next
The Gauteng SAPS is conducting an active investigation into the robbery. The recovered Toyota Cross is expected to be processed for forensic evidence. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the South African Police Service on Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or to submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App.
Editors Note No arrests had been made in connection with the robbery at Dr Naledi Pandor’s home at the time of publication. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.