Vikash Rajwanta and Unitha Rajwanta.
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A DURBAN businessman lured his estranged wife under false pretences to a centre they jointly owned in Glen Ashley, in Durban North, to “see a tenant”, where he shot and killed her in the parking lot before taking his own life.
At the time, Vikash Rajwanta, 48, and Unitha Rajwanta, 47, both business owners, were in the process of a divorce.
The couple have two daughters, Caitlin, 20, and Amy, 16.
A distraught Caitlin described the moments leading up to her mother’s death.
“On that day, my mum had hosted a baby shower for her best friend's daughter at our home which is across from the centre, where she was killed. There was a protection order in place at the time of the incident, and my father was not living in our family home.
“During the baby shower, my father rushed into the house and said that a tenant wanted to see them about renting office space. My parents co-owned the building (Marion Centre).
“They were in the process of a divorce. He started arguing with her. Then he shot her and then himself. We heard the shots and ran across the road, only to see my mum on the ground. I was devastated,” she said.
She claimed her mother suffered years of abuse behind closed doors.
“How can a man who said he loved his family, do such a terrible thing? He was very short-tempered, and always abused my mum physically and emotionally. She went through so much. He always had to be in control. If he was not, he would hold us hostage in the house and abuse us.
“As the eldest daughter, I always had to separate them while my younger sister was witness to all this.”
Caitlin described her mother as a deeply compassionate and faith-driven woman.
“Our mother loved God and was a woman of many strengths. She always put her children first and did everything she could to protect us, even while going through so much trauma.
“Her death was unfair, but we know she is rejoicing with God. All she ever wanted was peace. We love and miss you, Mummy, and we know you are in a better place. You were born to lift the name above all names, Jesus,” said Caitlin.
Unitha’s youngest brother, Claud Ramparuth, 37, a chartered accountant from Luxembourg, said they were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
“My parents, Peter and Dolly, were also at the baby shower. My father and nieces ran to the scene when they heard the gunshot. My father comforted Unitha while they waited for the paramedics. He killed my sister in the parking lot. I never imagined he could do such a horrible thing,” said Ramparuth.
“It was hard being in another country and getting news that my sister was killed. I was in shock. I was very close to my sister, and I had spoken to her just days before.”
Ramparuth said the family had long been aware of abuse in the marriage.
“I have known Vikash since I was 6 years old. They got married in 2001. We knew my sister was being abused, and she had a protection order against him – on and off, for years.
“Vikash was known to be a very short-tempered and controlling man. He was physically and emotionally abusive. The police were called many times to their residence when he would get violent. My nieces witnessed a lot of this.
“However, they always tried to work on their marriage for their children, so they attended marriage counselling. He went for anger management counselling, but he could never overcome his temper,” he said.
He believed their separation and pending divorce might have been a trigger.
“He could not take that she finally stood up for herself and decided to leave, so he decided to kill her.”
Ramparuth also raised questions about the weapon used.
“He always had a licenced gun. The gun was taken away from him and was kept by a friend. However, the gun which was used to kill my sister, was not the same one which is still in the possession of the friend. Only a police investigation will reveal the truth,” he added.
“How do you even process something like this? It is gut wrenching. My nieces have lost their mum. The person who killed her was their dad. Our entire family are hurting,” he said.