Mozambican Businessman's Wife Accuses Rogue Cops of Theft and Torture During Kidnapping Investigation
The wife of a Mozambican businessman, implicated in the kidnapping of a KwaZulu-Natal businessman, has filed an affidavit with the Hawks, alleging that rogue police officers, purportedly working under the direction of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, stole valuable items and subjected her to inhumane treatment during a raid on her Gauteng home in November last year.
Nazia Nangy, wife of Esmael Nangy, one of the suspects arrested and allegedly tortured by Mkhwanazi and members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in connection with the kidnapping of Zakariyya Desai, claims that six expensive Rolex watches, other jewellery, and R50,000 in cash were stolen during the raid. She also alleges that she was detained for four days without being allowed to wash or change her undergarments.
Nangy claims she was subjected to torture and other violations in an attempt to coerce her into providing incriminating information about her husband's involvement in Desai's kidnapping and his whereabouts. Police believed Esmael and his brother, Setefane Brites, along with other suspects, had kidnapped Desai and demanded a R35-million ransom.
In her affidavit to Hawks investigator Major-General Mmeli Makinyane, dated July 23, Nangy details the events following her arrest on November 27, 2024. She was taken to Kwadukuza Police Station, where she remained for four days. During this time, she claims police officers ransacked her home and committed grand theft.
"The police conducted an illegal raid and ransacked our home, destroying numerous rooms, furniture, and appliances, and even committed theft of a wall-bolted safe by removing the bolts from the wall, which contained five genuine Rolex watches, some diamond and gold jewellery and other items of extremely high value," she wrote in her affidavit. "In addition thereto, my Rolex kept on my bedside counter was also stolen, along with money to the value of approximately R50000, which was kept in my closet."
Nangy also described the inhumane conditions she endured while in custody. "During this time (her incarceration), I was held in inhumane conditions without even being afforded [a chance] to change my clothing or underwear," she stated in her affidavit. She maintained that she had no knowledge of the kidnapping or of Desai himself.
"I expressed grave concern at this and told them that I was not aware of any kidnapping nor any person named Zakariyya, and that I have made numerous attempts to call my brother to no avail. I then forwarded them (her brother’s number) to police officers in fear that they would continue harming and possibly kill my husband as they have threatened," she said. Nangy was eventually released on December 1, 2024, without ever appearing in court.
The events leading to Nangy's arrest began earlier in November 2024, when Esmael and Brites were travelling from Mpumalanga to Johannesburg. According to Esmael's affidavit, as they approached the Kraft Road offramp in Edenvale, a white VW Golf 8 and a BMW forced them to stop.
"They pointed guns at us, forced us onto the ground, covered our heads, [and] failed to present an arrest warrant," Esmael recalled. He stated that neither the assailants nor their vehicles were marked or identified. The pair were then taken to a private residence in Houghton, Johannesburg.
Esmael claims that at the residence, "Our clothes were cut off with knives while handcuffed, causing injury," and that none of their possessions – cellphones, cash, or Esmael’s Mercedes-Benz – were properly inventoried in official SAPS registers. The police allegedly confiscated Esmael’s Merc, which was later found burnt in Pietermaritzburg, despite being recorded as being in police custody.
He said the interrogators demanded information about a supposed kidnapping, brandished a photo showing him dining with one Jumin Ho in Durban earlier that month, and accused him of purchasing airtime for use in extortion – a charge he denied. "They beat and tortured me, including genital torture with garden shears (sic)," Esmael alleged.
When he refused to unlock his iPhone, he said, they choked him and then tied a plastic bag over his head and filled it with water. "After over two hours of torture, I unlocked the phone." During this ordeal, Esmael was forced to call his wife, with his captors threatening her, "demanding she locate Jumin Ho or they [would return] me in pieces". Esmael’s associate was later separated from him and taken to Mpumalanga for further interrogation.
On December 9, 2024, Esmael, his associate, and a third suspect, an SAPS officer named Samkeliso Mlotshwa, were allegedly taken from police custody and driven to a private farm near Kwadukuza. There, Mkhwanazi and members of the complainant’s family reportedly confronted the suspects directly.
This version of events is corroborated by a police report. According to the report, "It is alleged that the PC (Mkhwanazi) told the officer, ‘You should have committed suicide’." The report further stated that two of the suspects, including Esmael, were then "severely tortured again, this time in the presence of the PC and the complainant’s family". The victims "were held for most of the night" before being transferred to other locations, including Matsulu near the Mozambique border and, ultimately, Kwadukuza, KZN. One victim required hospitalisation "due to the extent of injuries sustained from the torture".
The affidavits from Nazia and Esmael Nangy formed part of a formal bail application and a complaint to the Hawks. This is not the first time the PKTT has faced accusations of theft. Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is accused of attempted murder, has also accused them of stealing his two luxury watches. The Hawks are currently investigating the allegations.
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