Woman killed, man shot in Westville robbery

WHILE police statistics show a downward trend in burglaries in Westville over the past few months, a violent house robbery this week left a grandmother dead and a businessman seriously wounded.

Imraan Randeree, of Randeree Jewellers, is being treated in the intensive care unit of a Durban hospital after being shot by intruders at his Duncan Road home.

His mother-in-law, Rookaya Dhooma-desai, was shot dead in the same incident and was buried yesterday.

Balaclava-clad robbers barged into Randeree’s home on Thursday. A police source, who asked not to be named, said only a cellphone had been stolen.

The source said Randeree had been relaxing outdoors when he saw two intruders on his driveway.

“He rushed to the house and the men chased after him. He managed to keep out the intruders with the help of his mother-in-law and locked the door.”

The source said noises were then heard in a bedroom and attempts were made to lock another door to prevent the robbers from entering the rest of the house.

“Imraan told the other family members to hide, while he and his mother-in-law struggled to lock the second door. The robbers overpowered them and forced open the door, before shooting Imraan. They then shot his mother-in-law, who died at the scene.”

Venisha Singh who lives in the vicinity of Duncan Road said: “All these incidents have instilled such fear in our lives that we are even afraid to go outside, or let our kids play outside.”

Another resident, Bruce Chellan, commented: “What is going on in Westville? So many break-ins and hijackings. Just ridiculous that our society must live like this.”

In September 2016, the Mackay family, who also lived on Duncan Road, were left grief-stricken when Gary Mackay was shot and killed when he tried to protect his family during a house robbery.

Community Policing Forum chairman Alex Gloster said there had been a downward trend in the number of house robberies in Westville over the past few months.

The Randeree family asked for privacy on Friday.

“While we mourn the loss of a very good woman in these tough and trying times, we ask that you keep my brother and our family in your prayers and thoughts,” said Ashraf Randeree, a brother of Imraan.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said police were investigating the incident and no arrests had been made.

Cases of murder, attempted murder and house robbery were being investigated, said Mbhele.