The family of Miguel Louw welcomed the 25-year sentence handed down to his killer in the Durban High Court on Wednesday.
Mohammed Vahed Ebrahim, 46, got 25 years for the premeditated murder of the Durban schoolboy Miguel Louw, 8 years for kidnapping and 18 months for theft. The sentences will run concurrently. Ebrahim was convicted of murder, kidnapping and theft in December 2020 and throughout the trial he maintained that he was innocent. Miguel was kidnapped and killed almost three years ago. He was reported missing on 17 July 2018. In September of that year, his decomposed body was found buried in a shallow grave close to Ebrahim’s home in Phoenix. Ebrahim was arrested in December 2018. Ebrahim had worked with Miguel’s mother. He sometimes stayed at Miguel’s home in Sydenham and did maintenance work for the family. Judge Jacqueline Henriques said Ebrahim showed no remorse. Dominic King, a community activist and a family friend who supported the family throughout their ordeal said: “We and especially the family finally have closure. We are happy that he received a lengthy sentence and this chapter can now be closed.” Speaking to The Springfield Weekly Gazette, family spokesperson, Tasneem Omardeen said that the family are happy with the judgement but, “We would have been happier if he got 25 years without the possibility of parole.” She said that they are happy that they don’t have to return to court again and can put this matter behind them and start with the healing process. Omardeen said that justice has been served but it is a bitter-sweet moment as, “We will never be able to see our baby again. It will not bring our child back,” she said.
