Pharmacy owner shot and killed during robbery

When Shaheed Moosa and his dad Ahmed, 85, left mosque after their Friday prayer to reopen their pharmacy in Austerville on June 30, they did not know that a few moments later, there would be bloodshed.

Shaheed said he watched helplessly as armed robbers stormed into Austerville Pharmacy and Clinic at about 13:40 and opened fire before they robbed staff and patrons, making off with cash from the till and nothing else.

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Ahmed, a pioneer in the community, sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen and shoulder, and succumbed to his injuries at the pharmacy, which he opened in 1991.
A female patron was shot in her leg, while one of the perpetrators assaulted her son.

“Our family is devastated. My father was a pillar of strength to us and we are struggling to come to terms with his brutal death.
“My father was a dedicated member of the community and he was always willing to help others.
“His death will not only leave a void in our family, but also in the communities of Wentworth, Merebank and The Bluff,” Shaheed said.

Community leader, Yusuf Vawda, said Ahmed was a prominent person in the community and played an instrumental part in assisting the poor and needy in times of difficulty.

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“He was a regular worshipper at the Merebank and Wentworth mosques. The community is disheartened and angered that an elderly individual was brutally gunned down and urge police to become more proactive in ridding the Merewent area of crime.

“The community of Merewent expresses their condolences to the bereaved family. We hope and pray that justice will prevail and that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be apprehended soon,” said Vawda.
Ahmed was laid to rest at the Dayal Road Muslim Cemetry on July 1.

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