The Gcaba brothers are the talk of South Africa online after the boisterous entrance they made with their entourage at Max’s Lifestyle.
Watch: Gcaba brothers make ‘big’ entrance at Max’s Lifestyle
Social media was flooded with reactions to the video footage showing how a group of high-flyers were ushered into the Umlazi luxury hangout in Ferraris, Porsches and G Wagons, with armed private security carrying military-grade assault rifles.
Dear black child, your dreams are valid. It's possible! Look here, other blacks doing it already. Max's Lifestyle Umlazi phakathi kasi! pic.twitter.com/5yIACTVsWH
— Masixole Dorana (@MasixoleDorana) January 9, 2022
The All White Party was an event hosted and overseen by Somizi Mhlongo and Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize at the same venue Max Mqadi was attacked in a planned ambush.
Suffice it to say, Mhlongo was very thankful of the multimillionaire businesswoman for her grace.
Somizi shows appreciation to MaMkhize for the friendship they share 😍 😍.#mamkhize #shawnmkhize #shauwnmkhize #shauwnmpisane #kwamamkhize #somizimhlongo #somgaga #somizi #somsom #soms #celebrityupdate #celebrityfriends pic.twitter.com/ISyxj3pEgG
— YentaRoom (@YentaRoom) January 9, 2022
What we know about the Gcabas
The sighting of the Gcaba brothers prompted users to question who and where this group is from. Here’s what we know:
They are a powerful taxi association in KwaZulu-Natal
The Gcaba brothers are heads of a taxi association that operates an interprovincial and domestic fleet. It’s believed the family is one of the most influential and powerful in the taxi industry.
One of the Gcabas was charged with fraud in 2021
47-year-old Sthembiso Gcaba was arrested and charged with fraud in March 2021 after he was caught withdrawing money from ATMs in Durban central using 70 stolen SASSA cards.
The Durban Central District task team raided his estate and seized a number of assets, including a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S he had recently purchased for R3.4 million.
The case is still in process.
The family was linked to ‘Free Jacob Zuma’ riots
Believe it or not, the Gcaba brothers were also linked to the shutdown riots that broke economic hubs in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021. Voice notes supposedly from sources within the family claimed they were responsible for the fleet that transported rioters and instigators in and around the provinces.
However, Mandla Gcaba, speaking on behalf of his family, vehemently denied the rumours and called for criminal action to be taken against those dragging their name through the mud.
Forensic investigations were conducted by high-level state security firms and, to this day, the Gcaba brothers were never listed as suspects in the shutdown riots.