Durban - The triggerman who shot dead Kidesh Ramjettan in August said he did it because he needed money to pay for his aunt's funeral.
Legal aid lawyer Sanjeev Juglal told the Durban Regional Court that Ayanda Shezi's aunt passed away and he needed money to pay for her funeral.
"This is a contributing factor as to why he agreed to be the hitman," said Juglal.
Shezi pleaded guilty this week to killing Ramjettan at his Rossburgh service station. Ramjettan had been talking to a friend when he was gunned down.
He died at the scene.
Ramjettan's family offered a R300 000 reward for anyone with information.
In his statement Shezi told the court that he also had to support 6 children: four are his biological children and two are his sisters'.
He told the court that his sisters were dead.
Shezi's youngest child is two months old.