Community workers killed

Search for suspects who used high-calibre weapons

THERE has been yet another shooting incident in Durban – this time the victims are two relatives, both of whom played an active role in helping their community.

Eldon Francis and Trevolin Mudray were brothers-in-law. They were shot dead in an incident that took place in Tongaat (oThongathi).

Francis, 31, and Mudray, 26, ran two valet companies and were based at the King Shaka International Airport.

On the day of the shooting, Francis, his wife and Mudray were returning from the airport to their homes in Tongaat. Francis was driving, his wife was in the front passenger seat and Mudray, her brother, was in the passenger seat behind Francis.

Pastor Selvan Mariemuthoo, the family spokesperson, said a group of men opened fire on their vehicle and sped off.

“Eldon was shot in the neck and Trevolin was shot on the side of his body. They both died. Eldon’s wife survived the shooting with a bullet graze to the forehead. She contacted their family to notify them about the shooting. Paramedics transported her to hospital and she was discharged later that day.

“They were just innocent people caught in the middle of an act of criminality that is allegedly linked to the taxi industry.

“The families of Eldon and Trevolin and the community of Tongaat are in complete shock.

“They were young and hardworking men with their entire lives ahead of them. Trevolin recently got married and was looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life. They were both breadwinners for their families.”

Mariemuthoo said the victims were also involved in community work.

“During the (July 2021) looting, they helped families in need. When we had the floods and subsequent water cuts, they brought water to the community. They worked with our local councillor to address service delivery issues.

“They were also a part of the community police forum and went out on patrols to protect the community. They were the future generation of this community and now they have been robbed of their lives.”

He said Francis and Mudray were members of his church for about 20 years. “They were young boys when I met them. They were always well-mannered and respectful. They handled the sound and lighting for our church services.

“Eldon and Trevolin did the best they could to help anyone in need. As a family and a community, we want justice for their killing. We pray the perpetrators are caught. We are losing too many good men because of crime.”

Mariemuthoo said the family had been dealt a further blow because their funerals had been delayed.

“Since last week we have been going back and forth to the Phoenix mortuary. The staff are plagued with challenges relating to resources. I have been helping the family with counselling and prayer.”

Dolly Munien, the DA councillor for the area, said: “Eldon always helped me. No task was too hard for him. If I asked him to check on a burst water pipe in the area, he would do it. He wanted to see the community of Tongaat free of service delivery issues. I pray that justice prevails for both him and Trevolin.”

Veena Rajyah, a community activist, said she met Francis through Munien in 2016 when Tongaat had issues with water cuts.

“Councillor Munien would arrange for water tankers to come to the area and Eldon and myself would go with the drivers of the tankers and direct them to the streets that were in need. We also started a group called the Concerned Citizens Forum which allowed residents to raise their service delivery issues. During the lockdown Eldon and his wife helped the Tongaat Community Feeding Society pack and distribute hampers to the community.

“I went past the scene of the shooting and I did not realise it was Eldon and Trevolin who had died. When I got home, I saw the messages on WhatsApp about the shooting. I could not believe Eldon was dead. I am still so heartbroken. I last spoke to him about two weeks ago and all he wanted to see was the community thrive. He was a soft and gentle soul who was taken too soon.”

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said the suspects used high-calibre rifles and were involved in two separate shootings just metres away from each other.

“In the first incident, the driver and one passenger were fatally wounded at the scene. One person was rushed to hospital.

“In the second incident, they fired several shots at a vehicle belonging to security guards who were escorting a taxi owner. They fatally wounded three guards. The taxi owner was travelling in another vehicle behind the guards and he managed to escape. The suspects fled.”

He said a total of five people were killed and police were searching for the suspects.

“The motive for the killings has not yet been confirmed, although taxirelated violence could not be ruled out. The connection between the two incidents has not been determined.”

The funerals are expected to take place on Wednesday.

The Department of Health in KZN did not comment by the time of publication.