The actions of a “greedy” bank teller who allegedly masterminded a robbery that ended with the death of an Empangeni policeman has angered and upset his fiancée.
Sharon Naidoo was to have married Warrant Officer Niren Ramsaroop in June next year.
But Ramsaroop, 40, did not even have time to savour his promotion from the rank of sergeant – he was gunned down while on duty less than 24 hours later.
Naidoo said her fiancé had lost his life because the bank employee allegedly gave confidential information about its customers withdrawing a large amount of money to the suspects.
“Everything that transpired started with that person colluding with the suspects. It ended with the three women being robbed of R110 000 and one of the suspects then shooting Niren. It’s all due to that person’s greed,” Naidoo told POST this week.
She said she was battling to cope after the man she had loved for 12 years was shot while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect.
“The State has been kind enough to allocate a councillor to help me through this process. I find myself crying all the time. I feel lonely, empty, hollow. It’s a miserable feeling. People have advised me to pray. That’s what I am doing.”
Ramsaroop, who was born and raised in Glencoe and stationed in Empangeni, was on patrol when three women approached.
They reported that they had been robbed by two men of a bag containing R110 000 in cash. The women had claimed that they withdrew stokvel money from a local bank and were accosted by the men shortly after leaving.
Ramsaroop spotted one of the alleged suspects and managed to grab hold of him.
The man pulled out a gun and shot Ramsaroop in the chest but he was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the leg.
A 41-year-old man, Hendrick Mbonamdi, was taken to hospital under police guard.
He was charged with murder, armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Soon afterwards, a second man, Sibusiso Mthabela, 23, was arrested. He faces the same charges. A third man arrested is bank employee Nhlakanipho Zulu, 27.
Zulu has been charged with armed robbery and murder and is believed to be the mastermind behind the robbery.
The trio were detained at Qalakabusha Prison near Empangeni, and were scheduled to appear in the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court this week. The money has not been recovered.
Ramsaroop’s mother, Nadeera, said she felt “blessed” by the manner in which the state funeral was conducted.
“My son had a dignified funeral. There were so many policemen present. I saw how well liked he was. They had given me so much support. The (KZN) police commissioner (Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni) was also present and sympathised with us.
“In her speech, she said something needed to be done as so many policemen were losing their lives. She also gave me words of encouragement when she said my son died a hero.”
Nadeera, a member of the Rama Krishna Centre in Glencoe, offered advice to the family of Warrant Officer Ashok Ramsakkan of Durban, who was also shot while on duty.
His funeral was held last week.
“Be strong for him. I’m a religious person and prayer helps me,” she said. “I have become stronger with prayer. When I feel down, I close my eyes and see the Holy Trinity (Sri Ramakrishna, Mother Sarada and Swami Vivekananda). I chant to them and meditate on them.”