Lenasia dad seeks justice for dead son
Victim, 22, shot after road smash
A LENASIA South police officer is waiting for justice after his son was shot dead following a traffic accident four weeks ago.
Police have since offered a R50 000 reward to anyone with information that will lead to an arrest.
Joash Harrod, 22, was shot in the back of the head on July 5 after he confronted a man who had smashed into his car and driven off, said his father, Captain Timothy Harrod.
“My son was killed and his life will not go in vain,” he said.
“I have faith the police will do their job and bring his killer to book. It’s only a matter of time before he is found.”
Harrod, who is stationed at Moroka police station in Soweto, said he last saw and spoke to his son 30 minutes before his death — they had supper together, with Harrod’s parents Devraj and Vasigee.
“Joash was returning my golf clubs and decided to stay for supper,” Harrod said.
“He was to spend the night at his mom’s place in Lenasia. His girlfriend and friend were with him when they left.
“They drove a kilometre down Starling Street to a stop street and his VW Polo was hit by the driver of a Nissan Navara, who didn’t stop,” he said.
“Joash got out of the car and managed to get a passerby to stop and they gave chase after the Navara.”
Harrod said the bakkie eventually stopped outside a house in Lenasia and Joash approached the driver.
He said the man who had stopped to help his son watched Joash fall to the ground and was then shot at himself. The driver of the Navara then drove off.
A witness, who did not want to be named, said he had heard a gunshot. He then saw a man walking down the street with a gun in his hand as if “nothing had happened”.
“I looked on the ground and saw a man lying there bleeding — people came out of their homes and some went over to see if he was OK,” the witness said.
“He had a faint pulse and somebody called the ambulance — 20 minutes later they were there but the man had died.”
Harrod said his family and other members of the community feared the shooter would return.
A police spokesman, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela, said police were following leads from community members and were hoping to make an arrest soon.
He said detectives would like to question a Lenasia man, Koobendran Moodley, about events on the night Joash was killed.
Anyone with information that could assist police should call the investigating officer, Colonel Nathi Mbatha, on 082 822 6562.