Durban - A festive gathering turned into a bloodbath for a Chatsworth family on Boxing Day when a 58-year-old man went on a shooting spree at their home, killing one and critically injuring three.
All of the victims are members of the same family.
The shooting lasted just over a minute.
It is believed the man had been at odds with his daughter since she married into a family he disapproved of. She and her husband lived with his extended family in Road 737, Montford.
The man allegedly responsible for the shooting lives in Pretoria and was on holiday in Durban. He cannot be named as he is yet to be charged.
According to relatives, he arrived at the home at about 7.45pm, looking for his daughter, son-in-law and two young grandsons.
He allegedly shot other members of the closely knit family without warning.
One relative said had the shooter’s 9mm Luger pistol not jammed after he had fired 13 bullets at family, who “dropped like flies” on the driveway, the outcome would have been more devastating.
“He even tried to shoot his own grandsons, aged three and six, but another family member blocked the line of fire,” said relative Sagie Appalsamy, who was caught up in the mayhem.
Kumari Samuel, 42, bore the brunt of the shooter’s fury. She was shot six times, mainly in the chest, and died later in hospital.
Samuel’s husband, 51-year-old Reuben, her mother, Pushpa, 62, and brother, Shunker, 34, are the other victims of the shooting spree.
They are reported to be in a critical condition at RK Khan Hospital.
SAPS spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed the incident.
“It’s alleged that the man went to visit family at Montford. He shot four people before he was assaulted by witnesses.
“He was arrested for attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm. He is under police guard in hospital,” said Naicker.
The police spokesman confirmed a charge of murder would be added in respect of the woman who died.
Appalsamy, one of 17 living communally at the Montford house, was shot at four times, but all of the bullets missed him.
“I’m lucky to be alive, but I just wish this incident never happened. It has ruined our family. I don’t know how we’ll recover,” he said.
The family had been in party mode when the shooter arrived at their gate, said Appalsamy. He tapped on the locked driveway gate, asking where his daughter and her family were.
Appalsamy, who was near the entrance, noticed the man had a hand behind his back but realised too late he was holding a gun.
“Before I could warn Reuben about the gun, he was shot,” said Appalsamy.
When others came out of the house to see what the commotion was about, they were shot at.
“Grandmother Pushpa (Govender) shielded the children when he (the shooter) shot at them,” he said.
Appalsamy said the drama ended when he and another male relative disarmed the shooter and wrestled him to the ground.
Alex Mikoo, a nurse and another relative of the family who lived a short distance away, rushed to the home when the shooting started.
“It was a bloody scene. My relatives were strewn on the driveway,” he said. Even though he’s a trained medic, Mikoo was traumatised by the event. “I’m trained to deal with situations such as these, but when your own family is involved it is very hard,” said Mikoo.
The shooter’s son-in-law said he tried on many occasions to mend relations with his father-in-law but never succeeded.
“He has never been happy with his daughter marrying me, and has always been abusive towards my wife,” he said.
Ronnie Pillay, councillor for the area, condemned the incident, saying: “It is unacceptable for anyone to take the law into their own hands.”
Sunday Tribune