American fugitive Robert Lee Redd Junior was arrested by Interpol and South African police at his home in Kabega Park, Gqeberha on Wednesday 27 May 2026. He faces extradition to the United States on charges of rape and sexual assault of two minors. Image: Supplied/SAPS
Interpol and South African police arrested an American fugitive in Gqeberha on Wednesday 27 May 2026. Robert Lee Redd Junior, 56, had been hiding in South Africa for seven years. This Interpol Gqeberha arrest ends a long search for a man Texas authorities want for the alleged rape and sexual assault of two minor girls. He now faces extradition to the United States.
The Interpol Gqeberha Arrest
The Nelson Mandela Bay detective task team carried out the Interpol Gqeberha arrest in collaboration with Interpol. Officers arrested Redd at approximately 3pm at a property in Kabega Park. They took him to the Humewood Police Station. Furthermore, he faces a formal extradition application by the United States government. He appears before the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Friday 29 May 2026.
What Redd Allegedly Did
The victim’s mother reported the first alleged incident to the San Antonio Police Department in Texas in 2017. The victim was 12 years old at the time. Redd allegedly committed a second assault in 2019. That victim was also 12 years old. However, the first complainant only came forward after authorities began investigating the second alleged assault.
A Texas court filed a criminal indictment against Redd in San Antonio. However, instead of facing the charges, Redd allegedly fled the United States. As a result, he entered South Africa and went into hiding in Gqeberha.
How South Africa Tracked Him Down
The US Embassy in Cape Town contacted the Nelson Mandela Bay detective task team for assistance in 2024. Therefore, a two-year search began. Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Pretoria traced Redd and executed a Section 5(1)(b) warrant. The operation received support from SAPS and the Hawks.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the arrest. “The suspect will now be extradited back to the US to face charges of sexual assault and rape against him in that country,” Gantana said.
What Happens Next in the Interpol Gqeberha Case
Redd appears before the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Friday 29 May 2026. Furthermore, the extradition process between South Africa and the United States will follow. South Africa and the USA have a bilateral extradition treaty. Therefore, if the court approves the extradition application, authorities will transfer Redd to American custody. He will then face trial in Texas.
For more information on Interpol operations in South Africa visit saps.gov.za.
Read our earlier coverage: Hawks Arrest Yonela Sapepa for Human Trafficking in Johannesburg.
Editors Note Robert Lee Redd Junior is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.