Allen Monswamy, his wife Sandy, with their children Kraidon and Shamaria,
Image: Supplied
HOURS after a Newark family of seven was reported missing, relatives tracked one of the victim’s cellphones which was linked to that of his girlfriend and reported it to police.
The victims have been identified as Allen Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, as well as relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and Mariama Happanah, 83.
Speaking to the POST on Wednesday, Devan Naidoo, 71, Allen’s brother-in-law, recalled seeing him just hours before the tragedy.
"Allen visited me on Tuesday afternoon at about 15:30. We had a good conversation. His vehicle had broken down for over a month, and on Tuesday he managed to put in a new engine.
“The next morning, the entire family of seven was missing. When we heard that the family could have been kidnapped, we rushed to their home. Everything was in shambles,” said Naidoo.
He said a breakthrough came when a cellphone linked to Kraidon was tracked by relatives, revealing suspicious movements and ATM activity in Mandini.
“We picked up their movement on the phone and them going to the ATM. We gave this information to the police,” he said.
Naidoo said coordinated efforts between the family and police eventually led to suspects being tracked to Eshowe.
“The suspects confessed and in the early hours of the morning, they led us to the bodies our family. We still need to go to the mortuary and identify them. I have no word. This just shocking.”
He added that two more suspects are still at large.
According to Naidoo, the attackers forced entry through the back door of the family’s home while they were asleep.
“They kicked the back door open while the family was asleep and demanded money. They used a pillow to suffocate Allen,” he said.
The suspects allegedly took the entire family in Allen’s Ford Ranger, which had only just been repaired that day.
He said despite ransacking the home, very few valuables were taken.
“They only stole Kraidon's laptop. All the other valuables like jewellery was left untouched.”
Ronnie Moonsamy, Allen’s older brother, described the anguish of learning about the kidnapping and later the murder.
He added that his brother’s family spelt their surname differently as Monswamy.
“When we went to check on the family after we got word of their disappearance it was frightening because nobody was left behind, everyone was gone. Thankfully my nephew’s phone was linked to his that of his girlfriend. That is how we got a breakthrough.”
He too said that no jewellery was taken.
“They did not really take a lot, the jewellery was not touched. But they forcibly took our family and about R40,000,” he said.
Moonsamy said the most disturbing detail was hearing that two of the people who had worked for his brother, was among the suspects.
“This tragedy is made even more painful because just on Sunday, my nephew got propose. Their entire family has not been wiped out,” he said.
Leeanne Harripersadh, Allen’s niece, said the family was devastated.
“We were all together on Sunday for Kraidon’s proposal and everyone was so happy. They were the most humble and loving family. All we want is closure and justice. This cannot happen to such a humble family ...”
Allen’s younger sister, Linda Maniickum, echoed the call for justice, describing their family as “distraught and heartbroken.”
Local leaders have also expressed alarm at the scale and brutality of the crime.
Local councillor Conrad Nkosi Mhlongo told the POST that Allen Monswamy, was a local businessman and had recently obtained a grass cutting contract.
“This incident is shocking and we are devasted. There are rumours that there was a misunderstanding about money with the people who worked for the businessman. This is nothing but criminality,” he said.
“The family home is just vacant. There’s nobody left, it is really sad.”
Phumlani Vezi, operational manager of IPSS Rescue, said the family’s helper had alerted the SAPS.
He too said one of the victim’s cellphones was tracked and led police to the first suspect.
“The cell phone was tracked to a house. We went there and found more suspects in possession of the other victim’s cell phone,” he said.
Three suspects have since been arrested, and several of the victims’ belongings were recovered.
He said the suspects allegedly confessed and directed authorities to the location where the bodies were found.
“They explained that they came to the house, loaded them into their vehicle, and drove from Mandini all the way up to Melmoth,” said Vezi.
“The main reason was money, because they were looking for money. This crime is very shocking, gruesome and very traumatising. Seven members of the same family killed is scary.”
The suspects - aged 21, 26 and 28 - will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday.