Mum’s anguish after daughter shot and killed: ‘I look for my child every day’

WHAT started as a joyous morning of the new year soon turned tragic after an Mpumalanga woman was shot and killed while on holiday with her family on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

Sarbhera “Sarbie” Amod, 37, of Middelburg, was shot in the head allegedly by her partner, who then turned the gun on himself on January 1.

Speaking to the POST, Thelma Amod, her mother, said the family had been on their annual holiday. She said this year they were joined by Sarbhera’s partner, whom she had been dating for about two months.

“Every year Sarbhera planned a holiday and would start saving from early in the year. Last year, she took us to Maputo in Mozambique. Previously her, myself, my partner, Dennis, and her younger brother, Sharlton, went on holiday. However, this year, my son asked if his girlfriend could join us, which I agreed to as they are 21 years old and are adults.

"Later on, Sarbie told me that she would also like to invite her partner. I told her she is an adult and did not need permission. However, they were in a fairly new relationship. I met him for the first time on my birthday on December 3. He seemed to be an okay person. Little did I know that just a few weeks later he would rob me of my child,” she said.

Amod said Sarbhera had booked the holiday at a self-catering accommodation in Margate from December 23 to January 3.

“It was wonderful as we visited various beaches and places across KZN. We even drove to uShaka in Durban. However, on New Year’s Eve, we decided to see a fireworks display in Margate. When we returned to our accommodation at around 4.30am, they decided to swim. We were going to have a braai thereafter. I was quite tired and decided to lay on the sleeper couch. Sarbie changed into her sleep-shorts and a top before going into the pool. But the sleep-shorts kept slipping down, so she decided to change.

“She got out of the pool and her partner followed her. While walking to their room I heard her say to him, ‘I am not going to stand for that jealousy’, and some other words. She was not shouting, but speaking to him. She was an adult, so I thought I am not going to get involved. A few minutes later, Dennis got out of the pool and came to lay next to me. We could hear Sarbie and her partner speaking quite loudly in the room, but Dennis said he was also not getting involved.

"It was not even a few seconds later when we heard Sarbie scream ‘Ma’ and then there was a loud bang. Then there was another bang,” she said.

Amod said she and Dennis ran to the room.

“When I opened the door, I saw my child on the floor, with blood pouring from her head. He was laying on the bed. I dropped to the floor, and lifted her into my arms. She was still breathing and then she just stopped. My whole world came crashing down at that moment. My child was gone.”

Amod said she and Sarbhera shared a strong bond.

“It was just me and her for many years after my husband died in a car accident. She was just 5 years old at the time. I later met my partner and had my son, who also shared a close bond with his sister. Sarbie lived on her own in Middelburg, and I live in Witbank. If I did not visit her at her home, which was several times a week, we would talk on the phone throughout the day. Not a day went by that I didn’t speak to my child. Now, I look for my child every day. I pick up my phone to make a call or send a message to her, and then realise she is gone.

“Sarbie was a wonderful, bubbly and humble child. She always had this beautiful smile. She was also supportive and wanted to help everyone. She had been paying for her brother’s university fees as he is currently studying law. They also had a beautiful relationship, despite the age gap. They were best friends. He spent more time at her home than at ours."

She said Sarbhera, who was the DA’s provincial director in Mpumalanga, was career-driven.

“She had been with the DA for the past eight years and was working hard to better the lives of the community. She loved her work and just wanted to grow within the DA. But she also had other plans for the future as she loved children and wanted to open a youth centre in the community. There are no words to describe what a beautiful person my child was. It is even more devastating the manner in which she died as she was someone who always fought against gender-based violence, but became a victim,” she said.

Lebo Kirk, a relative, said she and Sarbhera shared an amazing relationship.

“I first met Sarbie about 18 years ago when I started dating her cousin, who I later married. Sarbie and my husband shared a close bond from the time they were younger, and then I joined the family. We became a trio. Sarbie never saw a person as just a friend or an in-law. You became her brother or sister. She loved deeply. Sarbie also loved children and they loved her back. My children always wanted to visit her as she was the fun aunty; the one who would sneak you sweets and chocolates. She was also ho-pitable, just like her mother.

"They loved to entertain people in their homes and gave everyone the best time. Our family has really lost a gem. The person who took her from us will never know what they have done, and will also never be punished,” she said.

Captain Ntathu Ndlovu, a provincial police spokesperson, said police in Margate were investigating a case of murder, and an inquest had been opened.

The DA, in a post shared on social media, said Sarbhera would be remem-bered for her courageous spirit and brilliant operational mind.

“Her dedication to our cause has made our world a better place. Our thoughts are with her mother,  brother, extended family and DA colleagues,” it read.

A memorial service will be held in Mpumalanga on Thursday.

THE POST