Phoenix brothers caught ‘red-handed' in 'Sizokthola' live television drug raid

AFTER appearing on a South African crime series, a Phoenix family claimed they endured police brutality during a live drug raid, leading to community backlash and severe emotional distress.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

Brothers Preneshen Ramsagar, of Umhlanga, and Preshen Ramsagar, of Phoenix, were charged with dealing in drugs, alleged to be rock and cocaine soon after the raid.

They appeared in the Phoenix Magistrate's Court and were released on R5 000 and R3 000 bail respectively.

The brothers and their father, Rajesh Ramsagar, featured in an episode of Sizokthola, a show hosted by Xolani Khumalo and aired on DStv in June. The show features notorious drug dens and alleged drug kingpins being raided in small communities across the country, where drugs are rife.

During this episode, Khumalo and his team of security guards, and SAPS members raided Rajesh's home in Clayfield. They questioned him about the whereabouts of drugs, which they believed were being sold by both the brothers.

After much hesitation, Rajesh pointed to a small quantity of drugs.

When his sons came home, they were questioned by Khumalo and the police about where the drugs were being hidden.

Preshen told Khumalo that they had "left this game about three weeks ago", while Preneshen said "I left this game a long time ago".

Khumalo said he had information that the brothers were dealing in hundreds of thousands of rand worth of drugs.

A woman, who was not named in the video, said she had flushed the rock pieces down the toilet when the team arrived.

During the show's filming, Preneshen and Preshen continued to point out areas where the drugs were stashed.

"They led the police to another house, where a woman named Shireen took cocaine pieces wrapped in a dress from the wardrobe and handed it to Khumalo.