Zimbabwean tycoon Frank Buyanga has been imprisoned in Johannesburg

Zimbabwean tycoon Frank Buyanga has been imprisoned in Johannesburg's Sun City prison for three years. He faces charges of child trafficking (he "illegally" brought his son to South Africa after his wife was granted custody) and fraud. Frank Buyanga, also known as Frank Buyanga Sadiqi, is a Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist who made a name for himself in real estate investment, finance, and insurance. Born on September 14, 1979, in the UK, he moved to Zimbabwe in 2005 and founded companies such as Hamilton Property Holdings, Hamilton Finance, and Hamilton Insurance. Buyanga established FCO Trading Ltd. for imports and exports to West Africa and invested in commodities such as sugar, rice, and livestock through London offices. He reportedly owns over 400 properties across Africa and has invested US$40 million in the Zimbabwean banking system. Frank Buyanga is not a poor man; his net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion, largely from real estate. His possessions include a $15 million villa in the Cape Town suburb of Clifton, as well as luxury cars such as a Bugatti Veyron ($2 million), a Bugatti Chiron ($3.5 million), a Lamborghini Aventador S ($400,000), and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan ($500,000). Legal troubles are inevitable. Buyanga has faced multiple charges and arrests, including child trafficking, forgery, immigration violations, and fraud. The charges stem from a 2020 incident involving his son, as well as previous arrest warrants issued by Zimbabwe. He was arrested by Interpol in Johannesburg in November 2022 and, as of late 2025, remains in custody at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre (Sun City). Recent reports mention health problems, including hospitalizations, paralysis, and blindness. In 2024, he challenged the legality of his arrest warrant before the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. Earlier reports linked him to Kenya, where he was hiding under a false name. He maintains his innocence and speaks of personal and political revenge. At the same time, he is involved in charitable work through the Hamilton Foundation. Buyanga was once a flamboyant businessman who flaunted his wealth, particularly his luxury cars. At the time, there were only seven of these luxury vehicles in Africa. Buyanga owned two of these seven vehicles, which bore personalized license plates. One of the Bugattis' plates simply displayed an "F." His lawyers are now appealing to President Ramaphosa, as Buyanga's health is reportedly deteriorating behind bars. There are reports that he is paralyzed and blind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1o0Uw-trio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d2amVhIGNM https://nation.africa/kenya/news/fugitive-zimbabwe-tycoon-in-kenya--802900 https://allafrica.com/stories/202409050382.html https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/1583/buyangas-sa-id-documents-queried https://www.instagram.com/p/DRv6Zm7EUoN/