Grandfather (83) shot in botched robbery

Bystander shot in hijacking
Home robberies escalate in Botha’s Hill

KISTA Reddy was shot after three armed men attempted to rob his family, who lives adjacent to his home, on Patna Road in Botha’s Hill on Tuesday 13 May.

According to Veekash Gokool, Kista’s son, he, his wife and son were relaxing in their lounge unaware of the nightmare that would soon unfold. They heard their dog bark uncontrollably at approximately 6.15pm. Veekash asked his son, Reshwyn, to investigate.

When Reshwyn stepped out of his home he saw one of the robbers running towards him. “He cocked his gun, pointed it at me and pushed me back inside the house,” said Reshwyn.

As they entered the house the father and the son managed to slip into the passage adjacent to the lounge and locked the door. The wife, Shireen, was not able to follow, as her path had been blocked by the assailants.

The men, pointing their guns at her, demanded the keys to the family’s car. Shireen reported that when she did not comply one of the men tried to shoot her, but the weapon misfired, twice. The husband, realising that his wife was still in the lounge and in danger, unlocked the door and tackled two of the assailants. Shireen rushed into the passage, to join her son, and locked the door.

While wrestling with the men Veekash landed on the floor, and managed pulled the coffee table over his body. It was also alleged that one of the assailants tried to shoot him and the weapon misfired again.

“The men also tried to force open the passage door, and broke the door handle, ” said Veekash.

At this point, Reshwyn had located and pressed the panic button. When the men heard the siren they fled the scene, after grabbing a watch, cellphone and the family’s DStv remote.

Kista heard the siren and opened his front door as the robbers ran past. The robbers allegedly fired a shot at Kista, which pierced the front door, grazed his thumb and hit him in his thigh.

Shannon Charles, of VEMA, was the first paramedic to arrive on scene. He confirmed that Kista had been shot in the right groin area. “The scene was chaotic and there were many concerned neighbours. The patient was slouched over a chair and he had lost a lot of blood,” said Shannon.

Shannon and ER24 paramedics stabalised Kista and he was transported to RK Khan Hospital. The family reported that he was in a stable condition. “Doctors have not removed the bullet. They said that it was a bit dangerous to operate on him, given his age,” said Veekash.

Col Gregory Joseph, of Hillcrest SAPS, reported that they are investigating the incident, but no concrete leads have been found.