Johannesburg - Family members took to Twitter on Wednesday night in a desperate race against time to track down Mohommed Darsot’s hijackers.
They posted the white Honda Ballade’s registration number and their phone numbers in case someone spotted the car after the 8pm hijacking in Mayfair.
But six hours later, Darsot’s body was found in the boot of his car in Soweto, with gunshot wounds.
On Thursday morning, when The Star contacted Riaaz, one of Darsot’s relatives whose number was posted on Twitter, he was too distraught to speak, except to say the funeral of the 80-year-old man would be on Thursday.
At 10pm on Wednesday night, Mehnaaz Patel posted on Twitter: “Hijacked white Honda ballade YTN248GP Abducted from pageview 8pm last hrd car was on soweto hway.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said on Thursday morning that the man and his 23-year-old grandson had been driving in Mayfair at about 8pm.
They were confronted by three men, who got into the car
.
The men drove about 20km to Dobsonville, where they set the grandson free.
“He walked to the nearest police station and reported that his grandfather was hijacked by three men,” said Makhubela.
Police launched an urgent search for the man but at about 2am they found the car in Dobsonville’s Extension 2.
Makhubela said it appeared Darsot was killed before his body was stuffed in the boot.
Scores of people took to Twitter on Thursday morning to express their shock at Darsot’s murder.
Danny Crow tweeted: “Its a sick society when an 80 yr old is murdered. SA will never grow when sick bastards are allowed to go free.”
Hoosain Moolla tweeted: “Its times like this, when I say and feel, ‘Its an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!’”
But Danny Callow suggested that the solution to preventing crimes such as Darsot’s murder lay with the government.
He said: “Pay police more money, stop corruption and put criminals behind bars for life. It’s affecting investment!”
Shamila Fourie, spokeswoman for Outlawz Security, which patrols Mayfair and surrounding areas, said crime levels were alarming and growing by the day.
“It’s not safe around the area any more and people can’t walk alone, especially at night,” Fourie said.
She said since last year, crimes such as robberies, muggings and hijackings had increased in the area and residents were fearful.
This was partially due to the fact that most criminals were armed and not afraid of killing, said Fourie.
Darsot is to be buried later on Thursday, in accordance with Muslim customs.
The Star