The Johannesburg High Court has directed the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to file a comprehensive report concerning the alleged assault and disappearance of Nigerian national, Silas Ani, during a television-recorded drug raid.

The court Instructed that the report, which must include recommendations for follow-up action, be submitted to the National Director of Public Prosecutions by 8 August 2025, with a copy shared with Ani’s family.

The ruling follows a hearing into events surrounding a 24 April 2025 operation filmed for the investigative show Sizok’thola, which airs on DStv’s Moja Love channel. Judge Denise Fisher, presiding over the matter, referenced testimony indicating that Ani and other Nigerian nationals were subjected to physical abuse during the raid.

“An operation was undertaken by a group of people, including security companies and the operators of a TV programme on Moja Love, which has as its purpose the identification of [people] suspected of being involved in drug peddling or drug activity,” said Judge Fisher.

“These men, all Nigerian citizens, were taken to an empty flat where they were tortured brutally by being beaten for the purpose of getting them to confess on camera.”

Legal counsel representing Ani’s family, Magda Bezuidenhout, said the family is in distress due to a lack of information about Ani’s condition or whereabouts.

“The family wants to know if he’s alive or not. And if not, where is his body so they can bury him,” she said.

Citing police records presented in court, Judge Fisher noted that Ani was last seen unconscious, placed into a black BMW driven by masked individuals allegedly connected to the programme’s presenter, Xolani Khumalo. Despite police statements denying involvement, the court was shown visual evidence suggesting the presence of uniformed officers during the raid.

“The footage shows civilians making arrests and placing people into police vans while uniformed officers stood by,” the judge said.

“The police seem to admit that ultimately, these men, in their injured state, were taken to the Springs police station, where an ambulance was called. None of them were charged.”

Thulani Magagula, assistant director at IPID, confirmed the irregular nature of the operation and stated that police were on the scene.

“In an operation, the police must be in charge,” Magagula said. “But in this operation, it was a surprise when civilians were in charge instead of the police.”

He reported the existence of video footage showing presenter Khumalo making arrests and loading suspects into police vehicles.

“That’s not protocol and wrong, because respondents two and three [Siyaya Media Network and Khumalo] don’t have legal standing to conduct any search. But in this instance, they did, and that’s unlawful.”

Magagula also shared information from witness statements, indicating that the detainees were stripped and beaten with a cricket bat.

“The missing person [Ani] was also tortured while naked,” he said. “The last time Ani was seen, he was unconscious and in the custody of Khumalo and his team—not the police.”

Efforts by IPID to track Ani’s whereabouts through his mobile service provider remain ongoing. Magagula raised concerns that Ani may have died during the incident.

“Ani might have died on the spot,” he told the court. “I say that because his movement is controlled at the Home Affairs, and it shows that he never left the country. His personal bank account is also stagnant.”

In delivering her ruling, Judge Fisher expressed the need to provide some form of assurance to the victim’s family.

“I hope comfort is given to your client and their family that an investigation is underway,” she said.

The matter has drawn attention to the role of televised interventions in law enforcement operations and intensified debate over the rights of foreign nationals in South Africa. (The Guardian/Agency Report)