Man dies 36 days after highway robbery
YOUNG technician Marlin Pillay died on Monday, just over a month after ruthless robbers laid a trap on Chatsworth’s Higginson Highway and waited for the car he was travelling in to crash before pouncing.
Pillay, 26, was in a coma at RK Khan Hospital since the attack on August 13.
He and his friend, Shane Madaray, 28, a storeroom controller, were travelling from Moorton and were at the Croftdene off-ramp at 4.30am when Madaray, driving his VW Golf, tried to avoid a street light pole placed along the road, but hit a boulder that was also there.
The childhood friends had been going fishing.
Shilton Maduray told POST on Monday the tyre burst and a rim broke.
“Shane lost control of his vehicle and went over the barrier. The car somersaulted and landed on its roof in an informal settlement alongside the highway. They were yanked out the vehicle by a group of men who then dragged them for more than 100m before stripping the men of their clothing and valuables.”
Shilton said his brother had sustained broken arms and ribs, a cracked spine, punctured lung and injuries to his face.
Pillay’s arms were broken, his shoulders were shattered, his lungs punctured and he sustained severe head injuries.
Crossmoor Community Policing Sub Sector Forum member Sanjay Ramrattan said a tow truck driver had alerted authorities to what had happened.
“Marlin was transported to RK Khan Hospital and Madaray to St Augustine’s Hospital for treatment. Marlin was placed on a ventilator. His lungs were badly damaged and his brain activity was low…”
Shilton said his brother had also spent two days on a ventilator and was only discharged from hospital at the beginning of this month.
“He underwent a spine operation. When we broke the news of Marlin’s death, tears filled my brother’s eyes. Marlin and him were childhood friends and they loved to fish together. We cannot believe he was taken away from us in such a cruel manner.”
Pillay’s uncle, Anesh Rajpal, was devastated.
“The perpetrators took a life for their self gain. Does Marlin’s life amount to a cellphone, clothing, shoes and a wallet?,” he asked.
Ramrattan added that rocks and boulders are often used to cause accidents along that stretch of highway.
“On Wednesday, we had a man who was travelling along the same road. Rocks and boulders were thrown at his vehicle causing him to lose control of his vehicle and go down 150m down a ditch. Here again a group of men came to the car and robbed him of his valuables.”
Ramrattan said his team had been conducting patrols in the area since July.
“Every night, from 9pm to 4.30am, my team of 15 patrollers take turns patrolling the area. Every Friday and Saturday with SAPS and Metro Police as well as CPFs in Shallcross and Moorton we go out on our ‘white light’ crime awareness convoy from 7pm to 9pm while our regular patrols are still on.”
Ramrattan said their efforts had helped apprehend one suspect, yet the problem continued.