Phoenix pensioner (76) drugged and robbed in flat pleads for justice
They asked for her grant card and title deed to the flat
Reaction Unit at the elderly woman's home in Phoenix.
Image: Reaction Unit South Africa
A 76-year-old Phoenix pensioner is fighting for justice from her hospital bed after being drugged and robbed in her flat.
Poomanie Nair, who was found semi-conscious by concerned neighbours, is pleading with her family to pursue those responsible - believed to be someone she knew and trusted enough to open her door to.
Nair, who was drugged and robbed in her Sunford flat, is pleading with her family to help her get justice.
Her niece, Maggie Francis, said her aunt had asked them to “go get them”.
“We believe that the person or people who did this is known to her because she opened the door for them. She also told us that they had asked for her grant card, identity document and the title deed to the flat.
“My aunt was unconscious from Thursday until Friday morning. She is now conscious and speaking. Sometimes she does not make sense, but we are listening to everything she says,” said Francis.
"It is heart-breaking to see my aunt in this condition. She is the only family we have. She is my father’s sister and she took care of us all these years. Now it is time for us to take care of her. We will do everything we can to help her,” said Francis.
Nair, who lived alone, was found by neighbours in a semi-conscious state last Friday morning.
Ashrick Valaitham, a nearby neighbour, said his family became concerned when they did not see or hear her that morning.
“We have been living opposite each other for 35 years and we speak every day. My sister and wife called out for the aunty because they did not see her that morning. When my wife knocked on her door she could hear the television on. We found that strange because she doesn’t normally watch television. She has one of those old TVs with a bunny aerial. She doesn’t even turn on her lights sometimes,” said Valaitham.
He said when Nair failed to open the door, he broke it open.
“As we walked through the house, it was in a state. This aunty is a very neat person. We knew immediately that something was wrong,” he said.
Valaitham said they found Nair lying on the couch in the lounge.
“At first I thought she was dead and called for my wife. But then we saw her hand moving. My wife gave her some water to drink and I phoned Reaction Unit South Africa and the police. The paramedics were there in less than ten minutes,” said Valaitham.
According to Francis, several tests had been done to see what their aunt had been drugged with. They were waiting for the results.
She said they prayed her aunt made a full recovery.