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By Thursday afternoon, there was no indication of the whereabouts of the Moti brothers from Polokwane who were kidnapped the previous morning.
Philip Smith, lawyer for the boys’ mom and dad, says they believe the kidnappers’ motive is ransom money but stressed the parents are doing their best to remain positive.
“They are actually doing reasonably well – they’re still full of hope,” Smith says.
Nazim and Shanka Moti are a prominent business couple in Polokwane. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed today that brothers Zia (15), Alaan (13), Zayyad (11) and Zidan (16) were still missing.
The drama started on Wednesday at about 7 am when the family’s driver was taking the boys from their home in Nirvana to their school, Curro Heuwelkruin. On the way there, the BMW was forced to stop by a group of unknown men in two cars, a white Kia Sorento and a black Mercedes-Benz, according to the police.
Seven heavily armed men wearing white overalls approached the vehicle and fired shots. The Moti children were forced out of their parents’ BMW and into the attackers’ car. The attackers sped away. The Moti family’s driver wasn’t harmed in the incident.
READ MORE | I was kidnapped outside my home while waiting for a taxi
Police have launched a large-scale hunt for the kidnappers and the Moti brothers.
Efforts to safely recover the boys have escalated far beyond Limpopo.
Smith believes the four boys are being held hostage.
“It’s clearly a scheme to extort money from these people in exchange for their children – a typical ransom situation.”
Updated.. Aslm. I request a special dua for my friends Nazim & Shakira Moti, of Polokwane, whose 4 kids have been abducted on the way to a private school, Curro Heuwelkruin, in Polkwane. (Grandkids of late Siki Khamisa). ???URGENT??
— Laudium Sun® (@laudiumsun) October 20, 2021
Contact 0631710964 if seen or any info. pic.twitter.com/u54GagAe5c
He wouldn’t confirm whether the kidnappers had made contact with the parents yet. He only said that they still didn’t know where the boys are.
“It’s a game. These criminals are playing a game with the community. At the end of the day, it’s a waiting game, a cat and mouse game.”
Brigadier Mojapelo also confirmed that no communication has been received from the kidnappers.
He says police officers countrywide, and especially in Gauteng, are helping with the search and are in a state of readiness.
“It’s a very large team.”
Anyone with information can contact the police’s emergency number, 10111.
