South African musician Vusi Nova briefly kidnapped in Johannesburg

South African Afro-pop musician Vusi Nova was briefly kidnapped on Friday morning outside his home in Johannesburg.

Local media reports say a group of four armed men hijacked him and four other musicians when they arrived at his Melville home.

A gunshot was fired and three occupants of the vehicle were thrown out of the car leaving Vusi Nova and another musician in the vehicle, his management said.

The two were driven away by the hijackers who dropped off the other musician first and then later dropped off Vusi Nova who was reported to have been stripped of his clothes, beaten and abandoned in Soweto, Times Live reports.

His manager Lance Stehr said the other musician also had his ear partially cut off but both of the victims are safe.

The award-winning musician is reported to have been picked up by the police after they were alerted of his whereabouts.

South Africa’s Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has called on the public to with information on Vusi Nova’s hijacking to assist the police in their investigation.

“We’re relieved to hear that musician Vusi Nova is safe and call on those with information of his hijacking to assist law enforcement agencies,” he tweeted.

We’re relieved to hear that musician Vusi Nova is safe & call on those with information of his hijacking to assist law enforcement agencies. pic.twitter.com/Y65HeBWNpD

— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) August 25, 2017

Armed hijacking is rampant in South Africa with attackers sometimes killing their victims.

Vusi Nova is an award-winning musician who rose to fame in 2013 with his debut album Walk Into The Light.

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