Family Of Missing Businessman Anesen Pillay Holds Out Hope Amid Tragic Discovery

The charred remains of a body found in the vehicle of missing Pietermaritzburg businessman Anesen Pillay were taken by police forensic teams for DNA analysis.

Pillay, 48, was reported missing after attending a funeral at Aryan Hall on Khan Road on August 22, at Mountain Rise SAPS, the Sunday Tribune reported. The next day, police found a body inside a burnt-out vehicle belonging to Pillay in the forest in an area called France. Despite the discovery, the family remains hopeful that the remains found inside the vehicle do not belong to Pillay.

Pillay’s cousin, Somalan Moodley, said the family was refusing to give up hope until the identity of the remains had been conclusively established.

“We hope that he is still somewhere out there waiting to be found. We will continue to pray for his safe return,” he said.

Moodley and his cousin had been together at the funeral until Pillay left to attend to his business in Scottsville.

“He never reached his premises. He had planned to attend a party at 6 pm and had told his mother that he would return home to get ready before going to the function,” Moodley said. 

However, concern grew when Pillay failed to respond to a message from his mother at about 4 pm.

“His mother became worried when he did not answer her message to buy bread, even though the message was read. It is not in his nature not to answer his mother,” Moodley said.

According to Moodley, Pillay’s phone was switched off by about 4.30 pm, prompting his mother to repeatedly call him throughout the night. On Sunday morning, family and friends began searching for him.

“It was already a traumatic time for us when he went missing. Hearing that his vehicle was burnt really shocked us,” he said.

Moodley described his cousin as a kind-hearted and caring man who was always willing to help others.

“Anesen being abducted was odd and uncalled for. He had a soft nature and would never harm anyone. He was always in contact with his mother because she is old and ill; it was only the two of them living at home, so he took care of her very seriously,” he said.

Police spokesperson  Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that Alexandra Road SAPS are investigating a case of murder. 

Mountain Rise SAPS CPF spokesperson Sham Govender said the circumstances around the incident remain unclear. Govender said the community is still in shock and disbelief and awaits the DNA results.

A national emergency

According to Mike Bolhuis, Specialist Investigator, missing persons are not rare anomalies; they are a recurring national emergency. He said South Africa is confronting a serious and under-acknowledged public safety crisis. 

“According to verified South African Police Service data, approximately 4,900 to 5,000 missing persons cases are formally processed in a single reporting year,” he said. 

Bolhuis said over the five years 2020–2025, the SAPS reunited 17,968 missing persons with their families, including 2,963 children under the age of 18.

“During the same period, 3,099 bodies were recovered in cases linked to presumed drownings or unresolved disappearances. These figures confirm one critical reality: while many individuals are located, thousands of families endure prolonged uncertainty, and many cases end in tragedy,” he added. 

zainul.dawood@iol.co.za

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