Durban – A well-known Port Shepstone fruit vendor has died at the age of 89 after he and his disabled daughter were brutally attacked during a house robbery on Good Friday.
John Singh was at his Louisiana home with his 55-year-old daughter, Roshini Singh, when four armed men entered the property.
His nephew, Raj Singh, said his uncle had heard a noise outside the house and, as he opened his door to check what was going on, he was attacked.
“As soon as the door opened the men pushed their way into the house. They grabbed my uncle by the head and banged it against the wall. He (was knocked unconscious and) fell to the ground. The men turned their attention to Roshini, who was stabbed with a fork and strangled. She pretended to be unconscious so the attackers would leave her alone,” he explained.
Raj said the men ransacked the house, although the family were still unsure what had been taken.
“When the men had left, Roshini alerted neighbours and family. They contacted the SAPS. My uncle sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to hospital. He died on April 18. During his stay in hospital we prayed daily for his recovery. We cannot believe he is gone.”
Raj said Roshini had since moved out of the house and was staying with relatives in Pietermaritzburg.
“She is very traumatised by what happened. She and my uncle were very close, they cared for each other.”
Raj described his uncle as a humble man who loved working in the fruit industry.
“Every day, without fail, he would load his white bakkie with fruit and he would park near Umtentweni or the Caltex garage in the area to sell the fruit. He was well-known in the community.”
He said Singh grew up selling fruit and he loved his job.
“My uncle took pride in everything he did and he worked hard to provide for his family.”
A member of the Umtentweni Community Policing Forum, Captain Cecil Kodi, said he was shocked when he learnt of Singh’s death.
“He was an honest man who made an honest living selling fruit to passers-by. He was liked by the community and he will be sorely missed.”
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane, said a case of murder was being investigated.
He urged anyone with information to contact the Port Shepstone SAPS.