In a significant development for the medical community in Newcastle, Dr Jameel Desai, the esteemed Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon, has announced his decision to cease travelling to the region. This decision comes in the wake of a distressing incident where Dr Desai fell victim to a hijacking and kidnapping ordeal.
The unfortunate event unfolded on Friday, 23 February 2024, as Dr Desai was traversing the N3 route near Voosloorus while en route from Newcastle to Johannesburg.
However, his journey was abruptly halted by a group of five individuals, three of whom masqueraded in police uniforms. Additionally, the group had a white double cab adorned with blue lights, creating the deceptive facade of law enforcement officials patrolling the area.
Upon stopping, Dr Desai was subjected to a terrifying hijacking and subsequent kidnapping. While two perpetrators detained Dr Desai, the remaining accomplices utilised his banking card to withdraw funds from an ATM. Fortunately, Dr Desai was located after midnight on Saturday, 24 February 2024, and has since returned safely to his residence in Johannesburg.
Despite being back home, Dr Desai, alongside his partner, Dr Coelette Smit of Advanced Orofacial Surgery Inc., decided to discontinue their visits to Newcastle. Reflecting on this resolution, Dr Desai acknowledged the difficulty in reaching this conclusion, considering his residency of 14 years in Newcastle and six years of dedicated service alongside Dr Smit.
“My hijacking and kidnapping was the cherry on the cake,” Dr Desai lamented, drawing attention to the perilous state of the Memel Road, which had escalated to life-threatening proportions. Additionally, soaring travel expenses compounded the challenges of commuting regularly to Newcastle.
Expressing deep regret over bidding farewell to his ‘second home,’ Dr Desai said, “I am extremely sad because Newcastle is a second home to me. But unfortunately, I had to make this decision for my family’s sake.” He elaborated how his and Dr Smit’s family continuously worried about them while travelling to and from Johannesburg to Newcastle.
Therefore, when looking at the poor road conditions, the travelling expenses and the dangers of the criminal element, Dr Desai noted that he and Dr Smit made the tough decision to not come to Newcastle anymore.
However, he said, “I am fairly optimistic that because of my long-standing reputation in the community, and the service I have provided over the years, people who require my service might still feel inclined to visit my state-of-the-art clinic in Rosebank, Johannesburg.”
As Newcastle now bids farewell to Dr Desai, what are your thoughts on the above? Be sure to share your views in the comment section below.
12 Responses
We are no longer safe in this country. It’s sad that we are loosing Dr Jameel Desai. I wish him well.
Thank you, Dr Desai! You will be missed in Newcastle! Your are professional and kind. I appreciate the extra mile that you were always willing to go! So thankful that you survived the ordeal, but it is also sad that these perpetrators take our doctors away. All of the best for your future.
Regards
Deirdre Boshoff
Such a beautiful soul, I am happy that he returned home unharmed. Dr Desai is my Dr. Newcastle will not be the same without you.
A very sad but completely understandable decision taken by doctors Desai & Smith not to continue serving the people of Newcastle. Today its the funeral of popular Soweto doctor Micheal Isabello who was gunned down by criminals in his surgery. Government needs to wake up and protect all its citizens. The people must rise up and demand what is due to them from government.
THIS IS DUE TO THE CROOKS RUNNING OUR COUNTRY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERMANENT LOSS TO DR DESAI FAMILY AND HIS PATIENTS, ANOTHER CAS NO!!! WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS CARE ABOUT??? WE NEED TO GRAB BACK OUR CUUNTRY IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE CRIME ARE FULL TIME JOBS FOR MANY. I 0RAY DR DESAI ALL THE BEST FOR HIS FUTURE AND AM REALLY SAD FOR HIS EXPERIENCE OF TERROR. AMEN
So true. Hence my comment.
And hey nobody cares cos they are bodyguarded day and nite
And as for those Memel potholes I rest my case on Mzansi
It’s so sad that we are loosing our doctors because of crime in South Africa and poor service delivery of our government. Crime is the everydaythingin SA , bad roads is one thing that also put everyone’slife in danger.everyday. really wish them well. I’m one of Dr Desai’s patients. Had a TMJ surgery done by him.
Satafrika..:
How do we now know who is police and who is not henceforth
Thank you that were not harmed. Life and family are important. Where is the president does he still live in SA
Cry the beloved khawntri as they say
I was also hijacked and know the ordeal you have taken and made the correct decision all the best take care and don’t think about the incident.
All these problems and road deterioration is called by the present party who fail to govern the country by stealing 90% of funds in every project.How can a country survive in such onslaught.
This government needs to catch and wake up to deal with these crimes ,harsher sentences needs to be implemented on these perpetrators . Beef up policing in these roads. Death sentence needs to brought back into to restore order.
Could the memel municipality fix the memel road already, that road is a death trap for motorists and it has been like that for many years, no one takes responsibility and no one cares. Newcastle is home, now we are forced to take the long route via Balfo and Standarton which causes unbearable traffic when we go home for holidays