Family denies ‘abuse’ claims

ATEACHER who was slapped with a court order by her husband’s sister, shortly after his death, is fighting back.

Sushila Basdeo of KwaDukuza (Stanger) is one of eight relatives that her sister-in-law, Shevana Hiraman, obtained an interim High Court order against last month.

Hiraman, a businesswoman and mother of three, claimed her relatives, including her brother, sister-in-law, adult nieces and nephews, were preventing her from seeing her ailing, elderly father.

The dispute arose after the death of her brother, for which she was allegedly blamed.

But, in court papers, Hiraman’s sister-in-law, Sushila Basdeo, of KwaDukuza (Stanger) and the other respondents denied the allegations and are opposing the order being made final.

The respondents are Basdeo, her children Keshav, Kashiv, and Kiara, Hiraman’s sister’s children Sharlene, Salisha and Samishka Sookdawe, as well as her younger brother Anil.

Hiraman, who is formerly from oThongathi (Tongaat) and now resides in Lepalale, Limpopo, said the family had blamed her for the death of her brother and subsequently made it impossible for her to visit her father at their family home in New Guelderland.

In her founding affidavit, Hiraman had said her brother, Sanjay Basdeo, had fallen ill in October and had been admitted to Stanger Hospital on a waiting list to receive a stent.

“Certain family members (I being one of them) then decided to raise funds for the purpose of having my brother treated at a private hospital where we believed he would have received better medical care,” she said.

“I donated R50 000 for that purpose and others made donations or pledged contributions.”

She said her brother was transferred to Entabeni Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a “much more serious problem” requiring open-heart surgery, which would cost in the region of R450 000.

“Unfortunately, many of those family members who pledged financial support did not honour their commitment and as a result it was not possible to raise the required amount.

“In the end, my brother was transferred back to Stanger Hospital and he died during early December 2016.”

Hiraman said some family members were extremely unhappy because of her efforts to have her brother treated at a private hospital.

She claimed her nieces and her brother Anil had all sent her SMSes in which they blamed her for Sanjay’s death.

Sushila, however, denied this.

She said her husband had been diagnosed with water in his lungs, blood clots and high cholesterol and had been on a waiting list to be transferred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.

She said there had been no mention by doctors that he would require a stent.

Sushila said on October 23 Hiraman and her other brother Sunil had taken an “executive decision” to transfer her husband to Entabeni Hospital.

“I discussed this with my husband and he refused to be moved as we could not afford a private hospital.”

She said Sunil had told the family that Hiraman would cover the costs.

“My husband was ill and weak and finally conceded.”

She said a total of R90 000 had been collected, with Hiraman having contributed R50 000.

She said when her husband had been admitted to hospital, an angiogram had to be performed but could not be completed due to non-payment.

Open-heart surgery

Sushila said she went to the cardiologist’s rooms and paid R15 000.

She said the angiogram revealed her husband needed open-heart surgery which cost in the region of R450 000.

“Hiraman and Sunil refused to pay this amount although they had the financial means to do so. My husband was devastated and literally ran from the hospital. My son found him sobbing in the hospital garden.”

She said Sanjay had been discharged.

“I must categorically state that the family members who pledged their support and failed to honour it are none other than the applicant (Hiraman) and Sunil. No other family members pledged support and they had already contributed what they could afford.”

Sushila also denied Hiraman, her husband and two children had enjoyed a close relationship with her father, Hurdeo Basdeo, aged 74.

She said on December 22, Hiraman went to visit him.

“She poured alcohol for Hurdeo repeatedly.”

She said her other sister-inlaw, Sharon Kemraj, cautioned Hiraman on this because Hurdeo, an epileptic, was on medication.

“She responded that she would rather give him alcohol while he was alive than when he was dead.”

Sushila said that when Hiraman left, her father in law was “totally inebriated” and oblivious to her leaving.

Sushila further denied Hiraman’s claim she (Sushila) had left her father-in-law at home alone on New Year’s Day every year.

While Hiraman said she had been humiliated and emotionally traumatised by the confrontation with her family that day, Sushila said it was actually Hiraman who had started the confrontation and threatened the rest of the family.

While Hiraman alleges Sushila violently grabbed her and pushed her towards a car, Sushila said in her affidavit: “I held the arm of the applicant (Hiraman) and steered her toward her car as I wanted all the drama to stop. This was not done roughly or aggressively.”

Sushila also denied the family had thrown Hiraman’s phone into bush, saying the phone had fallen out of her hand because of the pace she was moving around.

The matter has been adjourned.