Man goes missing on trip
A DURBAN father has allegedly been missing for five days in the Eastern Cape.
Shailendra Deon Rambhajan, 40, was allegedly kidnapped, while in the passenger seat of his friend’s truck during a robbery on Saturday night. Rambhajan and Sanjeev Sooknunan were travelling on the R61 near Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. They were going to deliver trolleys in Willowvale.
While Sooknunan was driving, he said he missed the turn to Butterworth and drove into Cofimvaba.
“I had to take a detour on to a short gravel road to avoid roadworks. I was driving at a speed of about 20km/h when I saw a group of men climbing on to my truck while it was moving. A vehicle also pulled up behind me and attempted to stop my vehicle.
“I began to swerve the truck to prevent the suspects from climbing into the cab. The men opened the passenger door and pulled Shailendra out.”
Sooknunan said he continued to swerve the truck and drove on to a tarred road.
“I saw a police vehicle and stopped to ask for assistance but the officer instead arrested me for reckless and negligent driving, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Despite me telling them that Shailendra was missing, they kept me
in custody overnight. I was released the next day without being charged.”
Sooknunan said he drove to the Cofimvaba police station for assistance.
“I went with police to the scene. We searched the area but we could not find Shailendra.
“I came back home and informed Shailendra’s family about what had happened. We plan to go back this week to search for him,” he said.
Rambhajan’s family declined to comment.
The police did not comment at the time of publication.