Tears flowed as mourners gathered for the funeral of Zarah Ramsamy, an 11-year-old girl from Malvern who was killed by hijackers this week.
The Grade 5 pupil was returning from her Penzance Primary school concert when her parents, Shaida and Barnes Ramsamy, decided to treat their family to dinner.
According to SAPS spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the hijacking, which involved the family’s Toyota Fortuner, took place at a parking lot of a fast-food outlet in Malvern on Wednesday evening.
Livingston Pillay, spokesperson for the Ramsamy family, said the incident was tragic and shocking.
“Like most families, they stopped for a meal on their way home. Zarah was in one vehicle with her mum, grandmother and tutor, Deandra Moonsamy, while her dad was with her brothers Triston, 17, and Jeremiah, 15, in another vehicle.”
He said the family were driving in convoy, and when they arrived at the restaurant, Shaida stopped in front of the restaurant to let her mother-in-law out while her husband and sons accompanied the mother-in-law into the restaurant.
“Shaida parked the car with Zarah and Deandra. While they were walking out, four suspects confronted them with guns. The tutor ran and so did Zarah, while Shaida handed them the keys.”
However, Zarah ran to the front of the vehicle and hid underneath.
“When Shaida and the tutor saw where Zarah had hid, they pleaded with the hijackers to please stop. They could take the vehicle but please let the child come out from under the vehicle.
“But despite all of that, they still reversed, and drove over Zarah. Shaida watched her child being driven over. She continued begging them to stop but they still went over her, unbothered.”
Pillay said when the rest of their family heard the commotion, they came running outside.
“Barnes came outside to see his daughter on the floor and his wife hysterically rolling on the floor and crying. He quickly picked up Zarah and rushed her to Ahmed Al Kadi hospital.
“Shaida, her sons and mother-in-law, still hysterical, were crying at the scene, when Community Policing Forum officers rushed them to the hospital as well,” said Pillay.
Just a few hours after the incident took place, Zarah was declared dead in hospital.
The vehicle was later recovered in Chesterville.
Pillay described Zarah as a bubbly and sweet child, whose bright smile always lifted their spirits.
“I watched Zarah grow up. She was the youngest of three and the only girl. She was her parents’ pet, she did everything with them, she shared a very close relationship with her whole family.
“We will miss her big smiles and hugs. She always welcomed us so warmly when we would visit. Showing us her rabbit which she loved dearly, she just loved animals as well as music, sports and dancing.”
He said the immediate family as well as extended family were not coping well with her loss.
“Her parents are inconsolable, they cannot come to terms with what has happened to Zarah. Her brothers won’t leave their rooms or talk, it is a very devastating situation.
“Every time somebody brings up the subject, Shaida bursts into tears. She hasn't been coping well, watching her child die has completely broken her.
“Her grandmother is especially broken because Zarah used to take care of her. She is 74 years old and she lost her granddaughter,” said Pillay.
The Malvern police station is investigating cases of murder and carjacking.
