‘I watched my son die’

A woman has recounted how she watched robbers shoot her son in the head, and had to listen helplessly to him mumble as he lay dying - because she herself had been shot in the leg.

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Durban - Seconds after watching her son being shot in the head during an armed robbery at their bottle store in Gledhow, KwaDukuza, a wounded Sheila Naidoo heard him mumble “Mama ma” before she lost consciousness.

That evening, as mother and son lay side by side in the emergency ward at the local hospital, Marshall Naidoo called out to his mom once more before he succumbed to his injuries.

“He was bleeding over the limit. The doctors couldn’t save my handsome son. He died next to me,” said 55-year-old Naidoo. “I watched my son die.”

The grieving mother, who was shot in the leg on Monday evening last week, was discharged from hospital on Sunday to attend her only son’s funeral and was then re-admitted.

“This was a senseless killing. My son told them to take what they wanted and to leave us alone, but they just shot at us,” said Naidoo.

“Marshall was only 29 years old. He was a good son and was planning on getting married this year.

“We only acquired the bottle store in July last year. Everything was going well.”

Naidoo said that on Monday, at about 6.30pm, two men entered the bottle store and asked about the price of beer.

“As we were cashing up to close, they returned just before 7pm. One held a gun to my head, while the other approached my son.

“Marshall told them to take what they wanted and leave, but they didn’t respond.

“The one just shot Marshall and the bullet grazed his head. The gunman who was with me then shot me in the leg. Although I was in agony, I pleaded with them to leave my son alone.”

The mother of two said the gunman then fired a second shot at her son’s head.

“I saw Marshall get drowsy and fall. He was about three or four metres away from me, but I couldn’t get to him. The bullet shattered my leg and I was too weak to move. I just heard him mumble.”

She said the two gunmen took money from the cash register before running out.

Unknown to them, the supermarket next door was also being robbed and a passer-by, whom the robbers tried to hijack, was shot at.

The men stole their neighbour’s Mercedes Benz, which was later found abandoned.

Naidoo said they were both taken to the local hospital.

“We were in the same emergency room. I called out to Marshall and he responded by muttering ‘Mama ma’ - I watched my son die,” she cried.

Marshall’s sister, Marcelle, had left for Portuguese Island that morning and was told her brother had died at about 10pm.

She said she was only able to return to the country on Wednesday.

“Crime is a problem here. These perpetrators must be brought to book.”

Councillor Sandeep Oudhram added: “This was a sad incident. It was unfortunate. Due to the high levels of unemployment, desperate people resort to petty crimes, but the consequences of their actions have lasting effects on so many families who have to try and pick up the pieces of their lives.”

Police spokesman Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala said two counts of business robbery, one of murder, two counts of attempted murder and theft of a motor vehicle were being investigated by the KwaDukuza SAPS.

The men had stolen cash, cellphones and cigarettes.

Sheila Naidoo, left, in hospital after being shot in the leg. Marshall Naidoo, right, died after being shot in the head.

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