In a desperate attempt to escape his hijackers, a South Coast man may have jumped from the speeding vehicle, resulting in his death.
But police have not ruled out that 27-year-old Soomesham Govender, of eMkhomazi, could have been pushed from the moving car.
Within five hours of his family reporting him missing, Govender’s body was found at the Scottburgh mortuary. He had sustained multiple fractures to his arms and legs and severe head trauma.
Before the body was found, family – including Carte Blanche presenter Devi Sankaree Govender – made an appeal on Facebook.
Her posting read: “THIS IS A VERY URGENT MESSAGE! My cousin Sumeshan Govender went missing last night while driving from Umzinto to Umkomaas. He was driving a powder blue Polo hatchback, registration no: NX 952. The car was found by police – 2 unknown occupants were in the car. Sumeshan is not even 30, tall and very good looking. Please assist – we are all in a complete state. Please post a message to me if you have any information.
“We suspect he was driving on the back road to Umkomaas. Pass this on to as many people you know.”
Govender had spent Saturday night with friends in Scottburgh, according to police. He apparently left alone in his blue VW Polo to go home at about 1.30am.
When he wasn’t home by 7am on Sunday, the family contacted his friends.
While at the Umzinto police station, the family were told that Metro Police patrolling the Isipingo area had spotted a man driving Govender’s car. Police stopped the driver and questioned him.
“He claimed he had bought the vehicle from two hijackers in Umlazi and that he was on his way to deliver the car to a buyer in the Isipingo area. He said he was just the middleman and had nothing to do with the hijacking. The man was arrested and detained at Isipingo SAPS.”
Umgababa residents had seen the body on the side of the road and called paramedics. It appears Govender sustained severe injuries which suggested he jumped or was pushed from a speeding vehicle.
KZN police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said a 42-year-old suspect would appear in court on charges of possessing stolen property. - Daily News