By Aerusha Jenal Lalbahadur
A Palmview family was left traumatised and enraged following the murder of 53-year-old, Allen Pillay, who was fatally shot during an argument on Palmview Drive, on Friday evening.
Allen’s 24-year-old daughter, Alison Pillay told the Phoenix Tabloid that her father was the breadwinner of the family and that he owned his own upholstery business. She described him as a humble and kind man who always put his family first.
Pillay said on the day of the incident, her father was working inside the yard but left to walk his partner out. “Our opposite neighbour, who was at the time drinking inside his yard with friends, saw my father and his partner and started passing vulgar remarks. My father did not respond at the time and went to the shop, however on his way back, our neighbour started swearing and using vulgarity again. This is where my father got angry and swore back. At that point I went outside and told my father to leave the neighbour as it was an ongoing thing for the neighbour to start problems with others,” said Pillay.
She said when her father came into the yard and was standing in the driveway, the neighbour went into his house and brought out a gun.
“We only heard the gun clicking twice and then he had fired it. The gunshot hit my father on the left side of his chin. The scary part about this is that our neighbour shot it from his yard into our yard, it could have hit anyone, including my child,” said Pillay.
Allen’s nephew, Wesley Pillay, 27, who was disturbed by the shooting, said the incident has been traumatising for the family.
He said: “Losing my uncle in this way has broken us. This shouldn’t have happened in the first place. What makes the passing of my uncle worse is that there has been a lot of false information circulating media platforms, such as the death of my uncle being a result of loud music which is not true.”
Wesley said the responders who came out to the scene did not even talk to the family of deceased but spoke to people on the road.
“There have also been comments on Facebook insinuating that my uncle was a drug user, which couldn’t be further from the truth. My uncle was an occasional drinker, he was an active man and he even ran the comrades in 2007. It is very disturbing that during this time of grief and mourning, our family has to hear people making false and hurtful remarks about him,” added the distraught nephew.
Phoenix SAPS, communication officer, Captain Louise Naidoo, confirmed that a case of murder has been opened for investigation.
She said: “It is alleged that the two Indian males, who are neighbours, had an argument about money owed by the deceased. The victim and the accused were swearing at each other. The accused then pulled out his firearm and fired one round towards the deceased. The bullet struck the deceased in his chin. The victim collapsed in his yard, an off-duty paramedic attended to the victim but unfortunately he was declared dead.”
Cpt Naidoo added that the suspect was arrested at the scene and the firearm used in the incident was recovered.
According to KZN VIP spokesperson, Gareth Naidoo, KZN VIP control centre received information via social media of a shooting at a property on Palmview Drive at approximately 8.57pm and immediately dispatched all available response officers to the location.
He said: “Upon arrival KZN VIP officers reported an Indian male was shot once in the chin. According to the community members, the victim and the suspect were having an argument when the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot the victim. The suspect was under the influence of alcohol. The victim was declared deceased by paramedics on scene.”
Phoenix Community Police Forum chairperson, Deneash Pillay, said it is unfortunate that in this modern age that “we as the most intelligent species on the planet cannot find peaceful solutions” to problem and arguments.
He said: The CPF encourages the community to contact SAPS instead of taking the law into their own hands. We as the CPF have established a strong relationship with the station commander of Phoenix SAPS and he always takes our calls even after hours.”
He added that it is unfortunate that Phoenix SAPS has left the community with no confidence due to past experiences, and that they are having weekly meetings to rebuild this trust with the community.
“I want to encourage the community to attend the Sector CPF meetings, held every month within their community, and let’s find out where we are falling short and attend to matters immediately,” said the CPF chairperson.
The suspect appeared at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, where he faces charges of murder.
