Messages of heartfelt condolences have been pouring in for the family of the late Verulam resident and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) lecturer, Chanlall Dwarika, also known as Shan, whose remains were found in a bush in Inanda, six days after being kidnapped, on Saturday, 3 June.
CCTV footage captured the kidnapping of the 61-year-old, outside a property he rented, where three men were seen forcing the beloved Electrical Engineering lecturer into the rear of his vehicle in Sea Cow Lake on Wednesday, 28 May.
Speaking to the Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid, the daughter of the deceased, Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi, said she has been robbed of her father and that the family is still reeling in shock at Dwarika’s untimely death. She said Dwarika’s grandchildren are now also faced with the reality of living without their grandfather and her mother has lost her husband’s love and care.
“For my father to pass on in this manner is heart wrenching. We cannot fathom why the perpetrators did not just take what they wanted and release him. To them, they have just killed another man but to us, my dad was so much more,” said Dwarika-Rajbansi.
She said: “He played many roles within our family and society. His death and murder was senseless. Our dad was more than just a man, he was a husband, father, grandfather, a dedicated educator and a man of God. My father was a friendly and jovial person. He was always enriching those around him with spiritual and academic knowledge.”
The grieving daughter said her father always strived to uplift those around him. “He loved music, playing the harmonium, guitar and to sing out loud. He was a beautiful soul that was taken from his family too soon. We pray that justice is served to the maximum strength of the law so that another family may not go through the pain and heartache that we are suffering through right now.”
“We would also like to thank RUSA, Dev Security, the numerous CPF teams, the investigating officers, Brigadier Cele and his task team for working tirelessly to bring us closure in this trying time. We are grateful to everyone who supported us and continues to support us during this time,” added Dwarika-Rajbansi.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, who visited the Dwarika family in Verulam on Monday, 5 June, has also passed his condolences to Dwarika’s family, friends and the entire MUT community.
Minister Nzimande said he is deeply saddened by the news of the killing of Dwarika and welcomes the swift response by law enforcement agencies.
“I denounce such barbaric and shameful acts against Dwarika and any other person. I am equally concerned about the number of our university and TVET College employees who die at the hands of criminals. As a sector and society, we will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are arrested. We cannot continue another day harbouring such disgraceful people, who take the lives of others with impunity,” said the Minister.
The Minister further said following the arrest of these suspects, he trusts that the criminal justice system will ensure the swift prosecution of all those responsible for this dastardly act.
The acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), Professor Marcus Ramogale, said Dwarika was a long-serving staff member who helped create a number of engineers who are now serving South African in different capacities.
He said: “Mr Dwarika was kind, compassionate, hard working and had immense respect for humanity. He was truly a good man. He dedicated his whole life with an intention of making an impact in the lives of the historically disadvantaged communities in many ways. Having been with MUT for 26 years, driving to campus every day from Verulam and staying afterwards for consultations with his students, who are the same age as his abductors, it is shameful that he had to be killed in this manner. Many of his colleagues have attested to Mr Dwarika being someone who loves his family and filled with a positive outlook. He loved his family and grandchildren just as he loved the students with all his heart.”
Prof Ramogale informed the family, staff, and students that their Counselling Department has volunteered to offer psychological counselling to everyone who wishes to be assisted.
Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the two men who were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of the 61-year-old lecturer have now been charged with his murder following the recovery of his body at the bushes near Mafuya Road in Inanda on Saturday afternoon, 3 June.
He said: “The victim, who was last seen on 28 May was reported missing and charges of kidnapping and carjacking were later registered following police investigations. Further intensive investigation led to the arrests of two suspects and on Saturday, a team of investigators followed investigative leads to Inanda where his slain body was found.”
Col Netshiunda further said a search for at least two more suspects, who are believed to have also been involved in his kidnapping and subsequent murder, is ongoing. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) spokesperson, Prem Balram, said Dwarika’s body was discovered in Inanda on Saturday, 3 June, after he was kidnapped by three men, on 28 May, on Crow Road in Sea Cow Lake, Durban.
Dwarika’s family reported him missing to RUSA and the Greenwood Park SAPS on 29 May. “Reaction officers and detectives followed up several leads which resulted in a person of interest in the case being arrested at an informal area in Crow Place. During an interview with reaction officers and SAPS members, the man was confronted with an identikit of a second individual who was sought for questioning in Dwarika’s abduction. He confirmed that the person was known to him and offered to point out his residence,” said Balram.
He further added that six reaction officers and two detectives from the Greenwood Park SAPS proceeded to an informal area in Springfield Park, popularly known as Puntins Hill, where the second person of interest was apprehended.
“The 22-year-old was transported to Greenwood Park SAPS where he was interviewed and he explained that on the afternoon of the abduction he was picked up from his home by two friends who were driving the victim’s vehicle. The elderly male was also in the car. They proceeded to several locations. They purchased alcohol using Dwarika’s ATM cards before they murdered him and dumped his body in a bush in Inanda. The suspect could not confirm the exact location as he claimed to have been heavily intoxicated at the time. Reaction officers and detectives transported the suspect to the area in an attempt to locate the scene. Investigators from the SAPS Provincial Task Team were appointed to assist in the investigation and they discovered Dwarika’s remains in a bush,” Balram said.
He added that Dwarika’s vehicle and two additional suspects are yet to be located. The family said they have yet to confirm the date of their father’s funeral as they are waiting on the SAPS to release his remains.
