Two foreign nationals and a police officer made their second court appearance at the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with the kidnapping of local businessman, Zakaria Desai.

Esmael Nangy (51), Stefan Brites (57), and 39-year-old Mpumalanga policeman Samkeliso Mlotshwa, are scheduled to appear again on December 17 for a formal bail application.

They are being held at Westville Prison in Durban.

Desai, 47, was abducted outside a mosque in KwaDukuza in September and remains missing. He is a member of the family that owns Desai’s Cash and Carry.

The incident attracted widespread attention after a video went viral, showing a silver VW Polo fleeing the scene. It is alleged that several gunshots were fired as residents attempted to intervene.

Following the kidnapping, the Desai’s family reportedly began receiving ransom demands for his release.

A group of protesters held placards outside the court on Monday morning, demanding that the men be denied bail.

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