The body of 62-year-old Ormilla Samdath was discovered in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her home in Everest Heights, Verulam on Thursday afternoon, 1 July.
It is alleged that the person responsible for her death is her 38-year-old son, Shalendra Samdath, who has a history of drug abuse. Ormilla was found to have sustained stab wounds to her body with blunt force trauma injuries to her head and face. Manoj Ramkussia, Ormilla’s brother, grew suspicious after he failed to make contact with his sister for two days. “Every day my sister comes home to pick up my wife and go to work. She is a very happy and bubbly person. She’s always willing to help. Last week Wednesday, 30 June, she told me Shalendra is very, very high and she has no idea what to do. The day before, he collected R3 000 in rent from Ormilla’s tenants and on the same day asked for R200 more.”
Ramkussia said his sister gave him the money, however, Shalendra said he could not access it due to his card being blocked and therefore sold his phone and shoes because he needed the money. The next day (Wednesday, 30 June) he asked for a further R160, which Ormilla refused to provide. “My sister was very worried about him and I told her not to go home and that she should stay at my house and rest until at least Saturday. The rest of Wednesday went by and I could not get ahold of her. My wife also failed to make contact. We thought it may have been loadshedding and that her phone was dead and she may have had transport complications. Things became even more concerning when Ormilla didn’t pick up my wife from work.”
Ramkussia said on Thursday, 1 July, he called Ormilla’s place of work to which her colleagues informed him that she was not in. “I then went to my sister’s house and spoke to one of her tenants who told me she and Shalendra had an argument around midday and by around 4.20pm her son sped off in her car.” When Ramkussia looked around the house he noticed the gates were open and the doors were locked. He said the kitchen blinds were also half-way open which was unusual. The kitchen was also left in a mess. “This made me think that perhaps she was with him in the car. I then called Verulam police to report a missing person but did not get much joy.” Ramkussia then called Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) and told them about the situation. “When they arrived we looked through the window and saw her body slumped over. Then we noticed blood on the floor. The paramedics rushed through but there was nothing they could do.”
RUSA then asked for a description of the car to be circulated to the police. Shalendra was found and arrested on Friday, 2 July, in Umbilo by the Umbilo SAPS who got the message to be on alert for a red Toyota Corolla, which was circulated by the Umbilo Community Police Forum (CPF). “I’m not sure what would drive him to do this. Shalendra was short of nothing and was blessed with a very loving and providing mother who only wanted the best for him.” SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele, said, “We can confirm that a case of murder was opened at Verulam Police Station. It is alleged that on 1 July, at 4.30pm, 62-year-old Ormilla Samdath was stabbed to death at her home in Everest Heights, Verulam. The suspect was arrested on 2 July.” Captain Henry Kisten, spokesperson for the SAPS in Verulam, said Shalendra appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 5 July, where he was denied bail and remanded to Westville Prison. The case was postponed to 12 July for bail consideration. Till then the accused will remain in custody. Heather Roose, Chairperson of the Umbilo CPF, said, “When the word got out on social media we put it to the Umbilo SAPS who got their task team members on high alert. This shows that communication works best and that people should always communicate with their CPF and the police.”
