Name: Thando Sonqishe
Born: c. 1978 (exact date unknown), South Africa
Nationality: South African
Other names / Nicknames: Not confirmed
Alma mater: Adams College of Education and the University of South Africa (Unisa)
Spouse: Buhle Samuels (traditional ceremony: March 2022; white wedding: 2 May 2022; reports of separation emerged February 2024; marriage ended by 2024)
Children: Two from a previous relationship (as of 2017); one daughter born December 2022 with Buhle Samuels
Education: Not confirmed
Higher Education: Not confirmed
Occupation: Businessman; owner and managing director of Dad & Son Transport & Projects, a company that supplies construction vehicles
Years active: 2010s–present
Known for: Ownership and management of Dad & Son Transport & Projects; accused (charges later withdrawn) in the 2017 OR Tambo International Airport cash heist; alleged to have supplied police blue lights to the vehicles for R1 million payment (denied by Sonqishe)
Political party: Not confirmed
Other political affiliations: Not confirmed
Career & Positions held (chronological)
-
Self-employed businessman operating a transport business supplying construction vehicles (pre-2017)
-
Owner and managing director, Dad & Son Transport & Projects, South Africa (ongoing as of 2025)
Advertisement
Awards and honours
None confirmed
Controversies
Accused of involvement in the March 2017 OR Tambo International Airport cash heist (R20.7 million stolen); alleged to have supplied police blue lights to the vehicles for R1 million payment (denied by Sonqishe).
Criminal charges / Legal issues
-
Involved in an armed robbery case in 2010 (charges withdrawn by the NPA)
-
Charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances in the 2017 OR Tambo heist case; granted R100,000 bail by Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in April 2017, with conditions to report to the Midrand Police Station seven days a week and notify the investigating officer of travel; claimed assault and torture by police during arrest
-
National Prosecuting Authority later withdrew charges against him (no conviction)
Website / Social media
No official website; may have a personal LinkedIn profile (unverified)
