Deadly hijacking: man's murder was driven by ‘opportunistic greed’

THE family of 57-year-old Ranjankumar Boya Sew is demanding justice after the Richards Bay ma was hijacked, kidnapped, and found stabbed to death in Jozini.

Two suspects who were found with his vehicle led police to his body, and the devastated family believes the crime was driven by opportunistic greed.

His niece Prenishka Naidoo said her uncle was last seen at 10:30am last Tuesday, when he left his home in Brackenham, to fetch his medication from the local clinic. 

He was driving his white Toyota Avanza at the time of his disappearance.

Naidoo said when he did not return home by 3pm, his sister Rookmeen Sew became concerned and alerted the family.

“It was just after 3pm when someone called my husband’s panel beating business and told him that Sew’s car had been spotted in Aquadene. The caller said got the shop number from Sew’s vehicle.  We were told that the car was in a bad condition.

“At the time we thought my uncle may have been involved in an accident. My husband and a few other family members rushed to the scene. They searched for Sew and the car, but found nothing. His cellphone was switched off,” she said.

Sew’s brother-in-law, Louis Naidoo, said they further received information on the Wednesday that Sew’s vehicle had been captured on a camera near the Dondotha Reserve in Kwambonambi.

“We also received an anonymous call demanding R5 000 before the car was stripped. It could not be established if the call was made by a scammer after the vehicle was circulated missing or by the suspects

“We continued our search for two days. My uncle’s vehicle was spotted in Jozini on Wednesday afternoon. Police found two men in the vehicle. They were interrogated and they eventually led police to Sew’s body on Thursday.

“Our worst fears became a reality when we got to the scene. We had prayed that we would find him tied to a tree, or left in the bushes. But he was brutally murdered. My uncle was stabbed multiple times. We believe this was an opportunistic crime driven by greed,” he said.“

Sew was a happy-go-lucky person and had no enemies,” he added.

Louis said they were  overwhelmed by the support from the community, Community Policing Forum (CPF), police, Reaction Unit South Africa and even strangers who joined the search.

“Sew was born in Empangeni but grew up in the heart of Zululand, where he developed his warm, joyful, and generous spirit which defined him throughout his life.

“After completing his education he worked at Edgars in Empangeni before being transferred to Richards Bay. He retired after 20 years due to ill health.”

Sew’s funeral was held in Richards Bay on Monday.

His family are now calling for the two suspects to be denied bail.

KZN police confirmed that both suspects - aged 30 and 32 - are due to appear in court this week.

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