Sadia: no word on ballistics
Elegant vintage motoring show set for Durban
POLICE have still not said whose bullet struck Sadia Sukhraj, the 9-year-old girl caught in the crossfire when her father, Pastor Shailendra Sukhraj, and an off-duty policeman shot back in a hijacking attempt on Monday.
However, Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, Moses Dlamini, said the offduty police officer had been cleared of firing the bullet that killed the child.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier
Jay Naicker, said a ballistics report on the shoot-out was still being compiled.
Minutes after the three hijackers abandoned the vehicle, Sadia was found with a gunshot wound in her stomach. She died on the way to hospital.
Since their daughter’s death, Sukhraj and his wife, Lorraine, have been swamped by officials and the media.
Sukhraj told the Sunday Tribune that Sadia, usually a bubbly girl, was unusually quiet on the day of her death.
“I firmly believe God had prepared her for what was going to happen,” he said.
The Grade 4 pupil at Everest Primary School had been travelling with her seven-month-old-brother in their father’s SUV, on the way to their grandparents’ home in Shallcross, when the hijackers attacked.
Sadia was buried at the Shallcross Cemetery on Tuesday and hundreds of mourners bade her farewell at a ceremony held at the Christian Revival Centre in Crossmoor, Chatsworth.
As the attackers fled the scene during the shootout, one was killed and another arrested. The third escaped.
At various community meetings, including one between Community Safety and Liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda and the Sukhraj family, it was intimated that the suspect had been beaten to death.
Calls for mob justice had been made during a protest at the Chatsworth police station on the night that Sadia died.
Their rallying cry was for police to act against criminals operating in Chatsworth. They even suggested police release the arrested suspect to them.
Sibonelo Mkhize, 39, was moved from Chatsworth to the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He claimed he had been beaten by police, who tried to get a confession out of him.
Mkhize’s Legal Aid defence lawyer, Anele Mveku, said:
“He says they (police) made him sleep on the floor of a cell at the Durban Central police station, without a blanket. He wishes to spend the night at the Westville prison as he knows the people there.”
Mveku also told the court she had received threatening messages on Facebook.
Mkhize has abandoned his bail application and his next court appearance is in July.
At a public meeting at the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre in Chatsworth, Police Minister Bheki Cele said Mkhize and his co-accused were “hardcore hijackers”.
“The suspect (Mkhize) was sentenced for hijacking, in 2013, to seven years in prison. He was out on parole.”
“We know who the third suspect is. We have his name and his address, and we will find him,” he added.
Cele would not comment on who fired the fatal bullet at Sadia.
Mkhize faces provisional charges of theft, kidnapping and two charges of murder (one that his co-accused would carry). SOME of Durban’s finest motoring treasures will be on display at the Concours d’ Elegance show on August 12.
About 200 elegant collectors’ cars will vie for the Best of Show title. The judges will consider historical accuracy, mechanical merit and style.
Organiser Jon Aritho said he wanted to bring something different to Durban: “It will be a lifestyle event the whole family can enjoy. We are delighted to bring this exclusive gathering to the city.”
Co-organiser Avish Maharaj has been a classic car enthusiast since he was a boy. He chairs the Mercedes Benz Club in KZN and runs Benz Boys, which focuses on classic car restoration. He said: “I worked on restoring classics with my father, Ramu, when I was young. This event will be appreciated by all motoring enthusiasts. The show will have it all – from rare vintage masterpieces to desirable collections and vehicles of particular interest. We are delighted to bring this together with fashion and food.”
The treasures will include a Mercedez Benz 190SL, a Jaguar E-type, a classic 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Tourer and a 1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud masterpiece.
The show will benefit Tafta on its 60th anniversary.