Nagesh Moothilal (Mags) is a name synonymous with fighting crime, and is considered the epitome of justice to the people.

After 26 years serving in the police force however, Nagesh will hang up his badge and bid a tearful farewell to the force.

For Nagesh, every case was personal to him.
He said even though he was trained to keep his emotions in check, his compassion for seeking justice, especially for children, often hit home.

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Looking back on his fruitful career as a detective, he recalled one particular quote which stood out for him and gave him the drive to pursue his passion: “One of my heads quoted Gandhi and the quote stuck with me: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.”
Then there was no stopping this headstrong, determined and compassionate man.

“My nickname was ‘sangoma’ people said I knew everything,” he joked.

Nagesh quickly became the go-to guy to crack high-profile cases, and was acknowledged for his exemplary investigation and dedication to getting the job done.
Throughout his career, Nagesh strove to continually improve his academic career, and obtained his Honours Degree in Criminology in 2011.
In 2015, he was appointed the Commander of the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Unit in Newcastle.
Since then, he has claimed the title of the Second Best Commander nationally and under his leadership, his unit won the Second Best Unit twice over.

After four years serving as the Commander of the FCS Unit, Nagesh will now follow a different path, taking up a position as a Senior Manager of Forensic Accounting Services in Durban.

“It has been an internal conflict and I’ve been struggling with the decision to leave. I’ve cried and I don’t know how to say goodbye. I love the police; my blood is blue.”

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