It has been confirmed that the moti brothers were released after a Ransome of R50m was paid in bundles of cash to the kidnappers after proof of life was shown to the family to confirm the boys were still alive.

The money was paid via a “dead drop” which was a coordinated handoff of the money at an agreed upon hiding spot, according to the report.

A family spokesperson denied that the family had made any payments.

Last week Thursday, Zia, Zayyad, Alaan and Zidan were reunited with their parents, three weeks after they were kidnapped while enroute to school.

At the time, police said the boys were travelling in a BMW when their vehicle was intercepted by two other vehicles.

“The brothers were on their way to school in Polokwane at approximately 7am on Wednesday, October 20, when they were taken at gunpoint by their abductors.

“A group of men with rifles and handguns cornered their vehicle and forcefully removed them,” said national police spokesperson, Brigadier Vish Naidoo.

On Wednesday last week, between 10pm and midnight, the boys were dropped off in Vuwani, more than 100km from their home in Polokwane.

Naidoo said the police in Vuwani received a call from a local resident saying that the children arrived at their house saying they were dropped of on a nearby road.

“Police arranged a doctor who confirmed that the children are in good health before they were handed over to their parents. The children also appeared to be in high spirits during the reunion with their parents,” he said.

Naidoo has meanwhile declined to comment any further on the progress of the investigations. When the boys were found, Naidoo said police were still investigating a case of kidnapping.