Four years on: families remember loved ones lost in the July 2021 unrest

FOLLOWING the tragic events of the July 2021 unrest, families who continue to grapple with the loss of their loved ones, shared their stories of grief and remembrance.

Tashleen Moodley’s son Faybian, 17, was shot and killed during the unrest.

She said not a day had gone by that she and his two younger sisters did not miss him. 

Faybian, of Trenance Park, Verulam, was shot and killed while standing guard at the entrance to the area on July 13.

It is alleged that a group of men were trying to sneak through a sports ground to get into the area. 

When the patrollers saw them, they approached. However, as the group fled, they allegedly opened fire. Faybian was shot under his arm and died at the scene.

“I cry every day for my child. Life is not the same anymore. We have a part of us missing, and we keep wondering what life would have been if he was here,” she said. 

Moodley said Faybian would have celebrated his 21st birthday on November 21 last year.

“I still celebrate his birthday every year. I have a wall in my home that is dedicated to him. There is not a day that goes by that I don't need my son. While it has been hard for me over the years, his sisters, especially my seven-year-old daughter, misses him terribly. She has a table next to the wall, where she sits and draws pictures for him. 

“She was also recently crowned queen at her debs ball and as soon as we arrived home, she went straight to the memory wall and put it on the table. Her crown and flowers are on the table. She also leaves sweets for him and speaks to him. She was Faybian’s princess,” said Moodley.

She said Faybian, who was a Grade 11 pupil at the time, had dreams which she was now fulfilling. 

“In 2021 he would have turned 18 and planned on getting his driving licence. His dream was to start an e-hailing business with his cousin. He wanted to be his own boss. I fulfilled this dream by purchasing two vehicles and starting the e-hailing business in his memory. 

“I also recently put up a tombstone at his gravesite. We have celebrated every birthday and death anniversary. We also do feeding at an orphanage. As long as I am alive, my child will never be forgotten,” she said. 

Moodley said even though the pain remained, she obtained some solace from doing crossovers with psychics. 

“I have done crossovers a couple of times and I have been able to speak to him. It brings me peace. But I still feel life has been unfair. It would have been different if my child was sick and passed on, but he was brutally taken from me. He would have celebrated his 22nd birthday this year, and I can only imagine how many great things he would have accomplished in the past four years.”

Moodley said her wait for justice remained. 

“We had hoped in the beginning that the perpetrator would be caught, but the case has gone cold. It is frustrating to keep asking the same questions and not getting any answers. I also felt very disappointed and decided to just let it be. Whoever did this to my child does not need to come forward. They will answer to God.”

Our pain and hurt remains unchanged

Kaveshni Raman said her family continued to carry the weight of grief, unanswered questions, and a deep sense of injustice after her younger brother, Desagan Raman, was killed. 

The 34-year-old of Todd Street, Verulam, was killed while patrolling with members of the community in Dawncrest. 

The father of two died on July 13.

Raman said they were initially told he was knocked over in an apparent hit-and-run.

However, a few months later, she said the post-mortem report showed the cause of death was due to a gunshot wound to his head.

“It has now been four years since that tragic day, and while time has allowed us to come to terms with his passing, the pain and hurt of losing him remains unchanged. However, we find comfort in prayer and in sharing fond memories of him with one another. These moments, though painful, help us keep his spirit close.”

Raman said Desagan had not been a part of many milestones. 

“At the time of his passing, he left behind a 15-year-old son and a daughter who was born just two weeks after his death. He missed his son obtaining his driving licence, buying his first car and the proud moment when he graduated with a qualification in legal studies and was accepted to pursue his LLB. These are the moments a father should be present for, and his absence was deeply felt. The loss has been profound, not only because of the way he died, but because of everything he was robbed of and everything his children were robbed of.”

Raman said despite the amount of time that had passed, there had been no justice. 

“From the beginning we received inconsistent information and were constantly misled. We were given the run-around, and the stories we were told never made sense. The experience has only deepened our disillusionment with the justice system. Eventually, we handed it over to God.”

Raman said the family continued to honour his memory.

“On his birthday and the anniversary of his passing, we light a candle at home and release balloons at the beach where his ashes were scattered. We sit on the shore, remembering, crying and praying. It is always painful, but we do it to keep his memory alive. Our love for him has not diminished with time, it has only grown deeper.”

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