Family scarred by robbery torture
WHILE justice is being served to three robbers, their victims say no sentence can undo the sheer terror, “mountain of horror” and trauma they endured four years ago, and continue to experience,
Mvusi Erasmus Dlamini, 30, Lucky Mbonambi, 30, both of uMlazi, and Siyabonga Mchunu, 33, of Albert Falls, are to be sentenced by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday, a week after being found guilty on six charges relating to the brutal attack on the Vally and Lakhi families in February 2012.
They threw boiling water on the victims, including three young children, during a home invasion in Albert Falls, to get the adults to part with their belongings.
The charges included robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft of a motor vehicle, three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On February 26, 2012, at around 8.30pm, the men used a stolen vehicle to get to the home.
The occupants were held up, and to force their victims to hand over their valuables, the robbers heated a kettle and poured boiling water on them, including three of the children, the youngest of whom was 2.
They then stole R11 150 in cash, cellphones, jewellery, a bank card and a 9mm pistol before fleeing the scene.
Sumaya Vally, who compiled the victim impact statement for her family, said they found it near impossible to put into words the pain and trauma – physically, mentally and emotionally – they endured.
“Prior to this incident (the 2-year-old) was a bubbly and jovial child. Post incident, he cried for days and nights on end. He was restless for months,” she said.
The two other children, aged 11 and 15, were equally traumatised.
“(The girl) was unable to wear clothes because of burns that covered most of her chest, neck and arms. Just blossoming into a woman, she felt violated.
“Due to the long period between the crime and the case reaching court, she’s been through trauma each time the case was brought up. Young girls usually make every effort to beautify themselves and are proud of their bodies at that age. She lost confidence as she saw the wounds healing. And the scars are a painful reminder.”
Vally said another member of the family, Ahmed Lakhi senior, died after his health deteriorated following the incident.
Speaking of her own pain, Vally said it was difficult to shower, and she used cold water “so as not to relive the absolute horror of the hot water on me. Every time I look at a kettle or I hear the sound of it switched on, I relive that moment. When I look at what remains of my scars I am reminded of the inhumane nature of this ordeal.”