The scene of the shooting where Siva Gounden killed in Crossmoor
Image: Supplied
A Chatsworth transport provider was shot and killed in an alleged botched armed robbery after he dropped off a passenger in Crossmoor, on Friday night.
This incident has prompted calls for community action against crime in the area.
Siva Gounden, 62, was shot once after armed men allegedly tried to rob him.
The suspects allegedly shot at his minibus as he drove away from them in a bid to escape.
Vish Mudaly, chairperson of the Silverglen Community Policing Forum (CPF) said they received a call from Gounden’s son, Traclin Gounden, appealing for assistance after his father was shot.
“We got a frantic call for assistance from Traclin, who is a Silverglen CPF patroller. He advised us that he had received a call that his dad had been shot on Lichen Road in Crossmoor.
“He had arrived on scene to find that his dad had already succumbed to his injuries. Our members rushed there and met with Traclin, who was inconsolable at the time.
“It was really tragic to see the elderly father of our patroller slumped down in the driver's seat of his minibus,” Mudaly added.
He said Gounden was a transporter who picked and dropped off staff.
“He was dropping off his last passenger at the Bottlebrush entrance on Lichen Road when he was shot. We extend our sincere condolences to Traclin and his family. This is a really sad loss of life,” Mudaly said.
Crossmoor CPF PRO, Kishore Hambarparsad, said Gounden made transport available for employees who worked in the vicinity of the Chatsworth Centre.
He said Gounden worked late hours and made multiple stops in and around Chatsworth early in the mornings, and late at night.
“On Friday, he went to Lichen Road to drop off a female. After dropping her off, he was approached by two black men who probably tried to rob him.
“He must have tried to drive off when the suspects fired at his vehicle, shooting him. He drove into a stationary vehicle parked near where the suspects opened fire.
“His vehicle came to a standstill when it crashed,” he added.
Hambarparsad said that crime was spiraling out of control in Crossmoor.
He urged residents to join the fight against crime by joining the CPF.
“Crime is spiraling out of control. As the CPF, we are trying our level best to get the community involved in the fight against crime.
“Fighting crime is a community effort not just a policing or CPF effort. We encourage residents to get involved in combatting crime from our community.
“Even if a person is just sitting at his window or balcony and keeping a watch of what is happening over a certain period of time, this would assist us in spotting suspicious activity and contribute to our fight against criminal elements lurking in the community,” he added.
To join the CPF, call 083 491 9833.