Dylan Bettencourt
According to reports, the four Moti brothers were released, only after the family paid a R50 million ransom.
News24 said law enforcement sources revealed that the four brothers, Ziya, Zayyad, Alaan and Zidan who were kidnapped for three weeks, were only returned to their home because the family paid R50 million in bundles of cash.
But family spokesperson Keshia Patchiappen has denied the allegations.
“There has been a lot of speculation and false information spread about the circumstances around the kidnapping. The Moti family would like to clarify that no ransom was paid,” said Patchiappen.
Patchiappen said the SAPS was integral to the safe return of the boys.
“We are very grateful for their dedication. Unfortunately, we cannot provide further comment as these are sensitive details that pertain to the ongoing investigation,” she said.
However, News24 reported that the payment was made after negotiations between family representatives and the kidnappers who on the day of the kidnapping contacted the Moti family.
The Moti family, prominent business owners in Polokwane allegedly agreed to make the “dead drop” payment after they received proof of life which was given to them a week after the kidnapping took place, as reported by IOL.
A dead drop is a coordinated exchange in which the physical object, money in this instance, is dropped off at a pre-planned location and when retrieved, the kidnappers return the captured.
The four brothers were returned home on Thursday 11 November after police received an alert that the children were dropped off more than 200km away from their residence in Vuwani.
Police received a call from a resident saying that the children had arrived at their house, saying they were dropped off at a nearby road.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said police arranged a doctor, who confirmed that the children were in good health before they were handed over to their parents.
“The children appeared to be in high spirits during the reunion with their parents,” said Naidoo.
No arrests have yet been made by the police in regard to the incident.
The four brothers were kidnapped in October on their way to school when seven armed men intercepted their transport van, firing shots at the vehicle before kidnapping the boys and leaving the driver behind.
