MP’s brother killed in drive-by shooting

JUST a year after Seelan Pillay was shot dead in a drive-by shooting on Lenny Naidu Drive, in Bayview, his brother, Terrance Subramoney, suffered the same fate on Sunday.

Their family are struggling to come to terms with losing two brothers.

Yesterday, the family dismissed allegations that the killings could have been drug related.

On October 8, 2022, Seelan, a former policeman and the then chairperson of the Bayview Community Police Forum, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting, on Lenny Naidu Drive.

Seelan had stopped his vehicle to buy food at fast-food outlet, Kara Nicha’s. It was alleged that when he returned to his vehicle, and while handing money to the car guard, an SUV drove up to his vehicle and two suspects fired several shots at him and then fled.

He sustained several gunshot wounds and died at the scene.

The brothers were the siblings of MP and community activist, Brandon Pillay, who said: “We are shocked, particularly because we experienced the same thing a year ago. To date we have not had any arrests or closure on Seelan’s murder. My family are quite traumatised.

“We just want space to deal with this second tragedy. We have no idea why this has happened. But it does not take rocket science to figure out that it may have links to what had happened to my other brother (Seelan).”

Brandon said they had lost faith in the justice system and law enforcement officials. “One year on and police have no leads as to how or why Seelan was killed. We hope Terrance’s murder will force police to move swiftly and arrest his killers.”

Brandon dismissed allegations that Subramoney was a drug dealer.

“My brother did not have any convictions, nor did he have any pending cases. He was not being investigated for any such alleged crimes. If there was anything that could be proven, the police would have done so before his death.”

Brandon added: “The circumstances surrounding my brothers’ deaths are still unknown. At this stage all we know – from community members on the scene – is that it was a drive-by shooting, involving two vehicles.

“Terrance was last at the Havenside grounds with his schoolfriends who were having a braai. He was a family man, humble and with a big heart,” said Brandon.

According to ALS Paramedics, Subramoney, who was driving a white Amarok, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a SAPS spokesperson, said: “We are investigating a case of murder following an incident in which a man was shot and killed in an apparent drive-by shooting in Bayview on Sunday afternoon.

“Information at the police’s disposal at this stage is that the victim was at a braai with friends and left them, saying he needed to see somebody urgently. A few minutes later, the man’s vehicle was found across the pavement at the corner of R101 (Road 101) and R201 (Road 201), riddled with bullet holes.

“The victim, an alleged drug dealer, was found in the driver’s seat with multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene. The motive for the shooting and the suspects are unknown at this stage,” said Netshiunda.

Subramoney’s funeral will take place in Chatsworth on Wednesday at the Havenside Function Venue. The husband, father of four and grandfather of one, will be buried at Mobeni Heights cemetery. Subramoney was also the manager of the local soccer team, Summerfield Dynamos FC.

Nomkhosi Zulu from the KZN Football

Association, said: “We have lost a leader who would always look for solutions rather than problems. A good and professional communicator who loved and listened to everybody.

“No one will ever fill his shoes.”