Two South Africans Arrested in South Africa Over Zimbabwe’s US$4 Million Ecobank Heist
Two South Africans linked to the US$4 million Ecobank robbery that stunned Zimbabwe have been arrested in South Africa.
The arrests mark a significant development in one of the country’s most audacious bank heists in recent memory.
High-Profile Capture in South Africa
Abraham Temayi Vumbunu and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu were arrested on Saturday after weeks of evading authorities. Police sources revealed the pair had been moving between provinces in South Africa, attempting to stay under the radar as investigators closed in.
National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the breakthrough.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Abraham Temayi Vumbunu and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu in connection with the US$4 million Ecobank robbery which occurred on 3 October 2024. The suspects were arrested on 5 July 2025 in the Republic of South Africa. The due processes of the law are now taking effect for their extradition to Zimbabwe,” he said.
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An Elaborate Heist That Shocked the Nation
The Ecobank robbery, which unfolded in Bulawayo last October, involved suspected insider collusion, high-speed getaways, and a massive sum that quickly vanished. The scale of the crime drew widespread public and international interest as investigators scrambled to trace the suspects and recover the missing millions.
International Cooperation Yields Results
According to police sources, the arrests were the result of a coordinated effort involving Interpol and regional law enforcement agencies. Weeks of surveillance and intelligence-gathering finally led to the Vumbunu brothers’ location and their arrest.
Extradition and Unanswered Questions Over Zimbabwe’s US$4 Million Ecobank Heist
The extradition process is now underway, with Zimbabwean authorities expected to travel to South Africa to bring the suspects back for prosecution.
While the arrests represent a major breakthrough, the whereabouts of the stolen US$4 million remain a mystery.