The family of Jerry Boshoga are disturbed and pained by the continuous messages from his kidnappers who have been demanding a R10m ransom while holding Boshoga captive for the past three months.
His family and friends have been receiving the disturbing calls, messages and footage showing the father of two being beaten, kicked in the face and leaving his face bleeding and bruised.
Boshoga, 45, from Silver Lakes, Pretoria, was last seen in November 2024 after he said he had to meet someone in Rooihuiskraal, Centurion. His brother, however, struggled to get hold of him, and while trying to trace his location, his wife received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number.
It was a voice note from Boshoga saying: “I’ve been kidnapped.”
According to a close family member, who wished to remain anonymous, Boshoga then said it was likely the kidnappers would be requesting a ransom.
The kidnappers soon demanded R60m from Boshoga’s wife, his in-laws, their friends and business associates. The amount was reduced and now stands at R10m, the family member told TimesLIVE Premium.
But to poke the family to take this seriously, a series of disturbing videos were sent to his wife and family members. In the videos seen by TimesLIVE Premium, Boshoga has his hands bound with chains and his mouth gagged. His kidnapper, dressed in black shoes and black gloves, is seen kicking Boshoga repeatedly in the face until he weeps.
In another video, a bruised and swollen Boshoga was recorded pleading with his wife and father-in-law to pay the ransom as his life depended on it.
According to the family, the kidnappers have even threatened to take Boshoga’s son, 9, and have sent messages to his wife, threatening to rape her or gang-rape Boshoga.
“There was a time [Boshoga] called us from that random number and asked how the children are doing and if they go to school. We told him they are not going to school. The kidnappers called again in January to speak to his wife, but all they did was make her listen to them beating him. When she’d hang up, they’d call again. They also called his mom,” said a family member.
“What we could tell is one of them is South African because I heard someone in the background speaking in isiZulu.”
The family said they had a suspect in mind, but after reporting this to the police, nothing seems to have come of it. Instead, some of the family members, including the wife, were seen as the suspects, said the family member.
“We don’t understand why the police are finding it so hard to take the suspect in for questioning. Even the number that is contacting us, they are not tracing it. Are you telling me they can’t trace a number? The country is literally under threat. Someone could kidnap the president today and they wouldn’t be able to trace the number?”
According to the family member, Boshoga’s wife has been distraught since his disappearance and was previously hospitalised. Her health continues to suffer due to stress. She also collapsed several times, including on Monday, due to the stress.
As for Boshoga’s mother, she was also admitted into hospital several times as she was struggling to cope with the kidnapping of her son.
“It has been hell. I don’t wish this on anyone. It is a very scary situation. Even now, putting this out there is so sensitive. We try to hide information from the mother. She is so fragile and she is sick from stress. We really think the people behind this know us,” said the family member.
Police were investigating the matter, with spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe saying the investigation was at a “sensitive stage”.
“We do not want to jeopardise the life of the victim and we can therefore not comment at this stage,” she said.
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