Gerard Pillay died a hero saving his elderly mother. The 45-year-old unemployed father of two, who lived with his mother in Venus Place, Woodhurst, was stabbed – allegedly by two gardeners – on the afternoon of May 8, prompting police to warn homeowners not to hire people off the street.
Gerard died in the presence of his mother, Stella Pillay, 85, a retired teacher who suffered a mild heart attack after the incident.
Speaking to POST from their family home in Woodhurst, Stella’s ex-daughter-in-law, Rashika Pillay, previously married to Gerard’s brother, hailed Gerard “a hero”.
She said the family were angry and wanted justice to prevail.
“These guys (robbers) are still on the loose. The elderly in the community are becoming easy targets and it is sad. It is part of our social responsibility to educate people on the dangers of allowing strangers into their home, which is the reason our family has decided to speak.”
She said her mother-in-law, who was discharged from hospital on Monday afternoon, was distraught and refused to return to the home she lived in for more than 40 years.
Rashika said the family had learnt that Stella had hired a gardener who came looking for work on May 7.
“My mother-in-law’s garden is very unkempt as she is old. But she always hired people off the street. She also thought nothing of giving them clothes or food, so this was not unusual for her.
“On Friday morning the gardener returned, but this time with a friend. He told my mother-in-law he needed help with the workload, so she agreed,” she said. “It was just after lunch when she went outside via the back door in the kitchen to give them lunch and check on their work progress, when they pounced on her.
“Within seconds they were inside in the house with my mother-in-law in tow. They took her clothes to tie her up to the bed. Ironically they took her favourite skirt and a scarf and tied her. They then began ransacking the home.”
Rashika said Gerard was not expected back home, but returned early and found his mother on the bed.
“The robbers asked Gerard to lie on the bed. He is a big guy and could have fought off the robbers, but I’m guessing that they were probably holding a knife to my mother-in-law’s neck or something, so he had no choice.
“I also think the robbers… (told) him not to look, and he accidentally looked at them and that’s when they stabbed him in his main artery. When the blood began to pour the robbers made off, only stealing Gerard’s cellphone.
“He managed to get off the bed and in the process lost a lot of blood. He ran outside calling for help and collapsed at the fence. This happened at 3pm and he died shortly afterwards,” she said.
”What was most disheartening was the manner in which police conducted the investigation. Crucial evidence was being touched without gloves. What kind of forensics is that? Also I did not see any fingerprints being taken.”
She said the saddest part was that her mother-in-law had to watch as her son’s body lay for six hours before it could be removed from the crime scene.
“It is unfair that an old woman has to go through this stress. She is one of the kindest old women.”
She added: “My father-in-law, EG (Barney) Pillay, who passed away five years ago, was instrumental in the community. He was a member of the Chatsworth Child Welfare and was a pillar of strength in this community. He did a million things for a million people and when this tragedy struck no one was here.”
On Mother’s Day, a Catholic funeral service was held for Gerard, followed by a cremation at Clare Estate Crematorium.
“My mother-in-law was given a day pass from hospital so she could attend her son’s funeral on the day she was supposed to celebrate with her children.”
Gerard is survived by two daughters aged 12 and 9.
“He loved his children. They were devastated and collected every picture of their father from home. It was the saddest thing,” said Rashika .
She urged the community, especially the elderly, to be vigilant.
Stella would be relocating to her home in Lenasia in the next few days when her health permitted her to travel, Rashika said.
Lotus FM talk show host Alan Khan wrote on Facebook: “I’m shattered, shocked, angry and disappointed and heartbroken to receive the news that one of my dearest childhood friends was tragically killed in a house robbery. He died trying to save his elderly mother…”
Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said: “Although there have been a number of incidents of this nature that have been highlighted in the media on a daily basis, members of the community still hire people off the street.
“Vulnerable members of the community need to take note that a person who has not been vetted can simply disappear after committing a crime and they will take advantage of those who cannot defend themselves,” Naicker said.
He said people must be more cautious when hiring people to work in their homes.
Another spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, said a case of murder was being investigated, and that no arrests had yet been made.