Neighbours grateful for ‘humble, respectful’ Moti brothers’ safe return

The community of Nirvana in Polokwane is on Thursday grateful for the safe return of the four Moti brothers, who were kidnapped at gunpoint last month.

A neighbour who lives a few streets from the Moti home, Abdool Sulaman, told TimesLIVE he was relieved that the boys were released and reunited with their family.

“There’s still a long road of recovery for them and we should continue praying for them. Their lives will never be the same again.

“Those boys loved riding their bicycles in the neighbourhood and I don’t see them doing that any time soon,” he said.

Zidan, Zayyad, Alaan and Zia Moti, aged seven, 11, 13 and 15, were abducted, allegedly by seven gunmen, while being driven from their home in Polokwane’s Nirvana suburb to the nearby Curro Heuwelkruin School on October 20.

On Wednesday night, police in Vuwani received a call from a local resident alerting officers that the children had arrived at their house, saying they were dropped off on a nearby road, said police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo. A doctor confirmed the children are in good health, he added.

Their parents, Naazim and Shakira Moti, said in a statement they are “overjoyed” to be reunited with their sons and asked for privacy while they work to “heal as a family”.

At the Moti home on Thursday morning there was little activity.

A neighbour, Shanice Moodley, said they were respecting the wishes of the family. “They’ve asked to be given space and that is what we are doing,” she said as she was preparing for her morning run.

In the past two days, TimesLIVE saw that security at the home was being beefed up with additional cameras and electric fencing being installed.

TimesLIVE approached the father on both days, speaking through the security guard at the home. He said Wednesday was not a good day and he would be spending the day praying.

“He said when he is ready, he will give you a call,” the guard said.

On Thursday morning, the neighbourhood of Nirvana was quiet with a few individuals seen walking and jogging.

“I’m happy that Allah heard our prayers,” Priya Jeena told TimesLIVE, while walking with her mother, Roshnee, 75.

She said they had all been praying for the safe return of the boys.

“They are our children too and we are relieved that this nightmare is finally over for everyone.

“This was a very difficult time for all of us, but I can’t imagine what the parents have been going through in the last couple of weeks,” Roshnee said.

One of the leaders at the local mosque also said the Muslim community had been praying for the safe return of the boys since their kidnapping.

Community members spoke fondly of the boys to TimesLIVE, describing them as very humble and respectful.

Their school shared a brief statement on Facebook, saying: “We are overjoyed by the return of the Moti brothers!”

Marí Lategan, Curro executive: corporate services, said in a statement the group “is enormously relieved, along with the entire country, that the Moti brothers have been safely reunited with their parents.

“The group would like to thank the entire country and beyond for every single prayer throughout the terrible ordeal. With sincere gratitude, the group thanks SAPS and all the other law enforcers who offered their support over the last three weeks.”

Curro said its staff “will continue to do everything in its power to support the family and the school community during the healing process”.

TimesLIVE