Wife, ‘lover’ face murder charge
Husband stabbed multiple times
A CHATSWORTH mother and her alleged boyfriend have been arrested in connection with the killing of her husband.
In November last year, her husband, Bradley Singh, was stabbed to death during an alleged robbery, metres from their home in uMhlatuzana township, Chatsworth.
Singh, 38, was on his way to work. He was a machinist for a shoe-manufacturing company in Jacobs.
While walking along a pathway to get a lift to work, he was held up and stabbed multiple times in his head and upper body. He was robbed of his shoes, cellphone and lunch bag.
He died at the scene.
A neighbour found his body lying face-down on the ground and alerted the community, who contacted the police.
After months of investigation, on Friday, Bayview SAPS detectives made a breakthrough in the case and arrested his wife, Lauretta Ramrathan, and her alleged boyfriend, Zale Wendel Leo Brock.
Ramrathan, 29, and Brock, 39, were charged with murder and appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The case was adjourned to Thursday for a formal bail application.
A police source said Singh’s death was made to look like a robbery.
“The wife had called detectives almost every day wanting to know if there were any developments in the case. Both accused have confessed to the killing.”
In a previous interview with POST, Singh’s sister-in-law, Miranda Inderjeeth, said finding out about Singh’s death was a difficult moment for Ramrathan.
She said: “But in Lauretta’s heart, she knew it was him. Before he left for work, he kissed her goodbye and hugged their daughter and son goodbye. With a smile, he said he would see them later. She never thought it would be the last time she would see him alive.”
Inderjeeth said: “For Lauretta, Bradley’s death is history repeating itself. When she was 7 her father, Babu, was shot dead in a robbery at a tavern in Cliffdale.
“She is now watching her daughter go through the same pain.”
Rooksanah Dawood, Singh’s sister, said: “The developments in the case were not easy to deal with. My brother’s children are traumatised. They are living with me.
“I am trying to get counselling for them. They have not got over their father’s death. His little girl still cries out in her sleep for him.
“His wife stayed at home and he provided for his family. He was such a good husband. He made sure they always had what they needed, from their food to their clothing.
“He loved playing soccer and wanted his son to learn how to play the game. He was a dedicated father and he loved his children. It’s hard for us because he will never see them grow up. He was robbed of so much.”
Dawood said: “Bradley was a man of very few words. He was respectful to people and this quality earned him many friends. We were made to think that my brother was killed in a robbery. We watched his wife mourn. It breaks our hearts because the children are the real victims in this situation.
“As a family we want justice. I have been robbed of my brother, and his children are left without a father. His killers must not be granted bail. We will oppose bail.”
Louis Moodley, chairperson of Dimes United FC, a team Singh played for, said: “The members of Dimes United are filled with immense shock as the revelation of this gruesome evidence of our late brother’s murder comes to light.
“What is even more devastating is that Dimes United have been assisting in cash and purchasing groceries over the last few months to support the late Bradley’s family, the last being on the day that his wife was arrested.
“This was done out of love for our late brother, so we cannot comprehend such apparently devious and conniving mannerisms that have been exhibited by the late Bradley’s wife, who knew how hard and honestly he worked to take care of his family.
“Nothing will replace our dear brother Bradley, so we now call on the law to exercise their full might to bring justice and closure for his family and friends.”
Ramrathan’s family could not be reached for comment.