EFF JOINS MANHUNT FOR BOYS

‘Ground forces’ mobilised to find abducted siblings

THE EFF has thrown its weight behind the search for the four Limpopo boys who were kidnapped on Wednesday, with the party leader calling for the “ground forces” to spring to “action”.

Addressing his 3.6 million followers on Twitter, Julius Malema compelled his supporters to spring into action.

Although the police and the boys’ family have already pleaded with the public to come forward with any information they may have about the kidnapped brothers, Malema felt it was important to rally the Red Berets – “just

for good measure”.

The family of a wealthy Limpopo businessman, whose sons were kidnapped on their way to school, are stressed and traumatised as the police

intensify their manhunt.

The police in Westenburg outside Polokwane have intensified their search for the sons of Nazim and Shakira Moti after they were kidnapped on their way to Curro Heuwelkruin in Dalmada.

The sons, Zidan, 6, Zayyad, 11, Alaan 13, and Zia, 15, were forcefully removed from their scholar transport by a group of about seven suspects armed with rifles

on Wednesday morning.

The Moti family lawyer, Philip Smit, told The Star yesterday that the family was anxiously playing the waiting game.

“The father and mother are very stressed and it’s very traumatic for them. The criminals have not only taken one child, they have taken all their children, so you can imagine how stressful it is for them, but they are getting support from their family, friends and community. We pray for a positive outcome soon,” Smit said.

According to the police, the 64-yearold driver for the sons allegedly fetched them from Nirvana and was driving along the R37 road near the N1 bypass when he was suddenly blocked by two vehicles, a white Kia Sorento and black Mercedes-Benz.

“A total of seven occupants from the two vehicles, dressed in white overalls, alighted and started firing shots randomly. The suspects then forced the four children out of the vehicle into their Mercedes-Benz and then drove off towards the direction of the R81 road,” said Westenburg station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Maimele Pilusa.

The suspects left the distraught driver on the scene with his vehicle.

Pilusa added that the police were notified and immediately started investigating, and launched a manhunt for the suspects and the children.

The children’s cellphones were later recovered, having been dumped in the Flora Park suburb.

“The motive for the incident is unknown at this stage, but police investigations are under way… We are urgently requesting companies who have CCTV footage that may help in the investigation, to contact us on 0767121537,” Pilusa said.

According to Smit and the police, no ransom demands had been made by yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Curro Holdings also joined in search efforts after the company called on the Polokwane community to help find the four children.

“Help us find the Moti brothers! Zidan, Zayyad, Alaan and Zia were abducted on their way to school. If you have any information, please WhatsApp 083 269 0892 as soon as possible,” Curro Holdings said in a poster circulating on social media.

The Limpopo Department of Social Development sent a team of social workers to the Moti family yesterday and another team of social workers extended their psychosocial support services to the children’s school.

Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale said the violent way the children were taken was disturbing and their safety was of serious concern.

The family lawyer further called for sensitivity in the matter regarding misinformation about the incident, following denied reports that the children had been tracked down.