The Monswamy family: Allen, 53, Sandy, 57, Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20.
Image: Supplied
In a heartbreaking turn of events in Newark, a family of seven has been murdered in what police describe as a crime driven by greed and betrayal.
The victims, identified as Allen Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, alongside relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and Mariama Happanah, 83, were reported missing when family members became worried after they failed to return home.
On Tuesday afternoon, Allen visited his brother-in-law, Devan Naidoo, sharing news about a new engine he had installed in his vehicle—a detail that would soon take a sinister turn. By the next morning, the entire family was missing, causing immediate alarm among relatives.
“When we rushed to their home, everything was in shambles,” Naidoo recounted to The Post. “We were terrified that they might have been kidnapped.” It was a glimmer of hope, however, when relatives tracked a cellphone linked to Kraidon, which revealed suspicious ATM activity in Mandini. “We picked up their movement on the phone and reported it to the police,” Naidoo said.
This information enabled law enforcement to track suspects to Eshowe, where they eventually confessed and led authorities to the location of the victims’ bodies. “I have no words. This is just shocking,” Naidoo added, noting that two more suspects remain at large.
The details emerged that the suspects had forced entry into the family home while the victims were asleep, demanding money and using a pillow to suffocate Allen before abducting the entire family in Allen's freshly repaired Ford Ranger. Despite ransacking their home, the attackers left most valuables untouched, stealing only Kraidon’s laptop and about R40,000 in cash.
Ronnie Moonsamy, Allen’s brother, shared the moment of discovering his family was gone. “It was frightening because nobody was left behind," he said, adding that two suspects were employees of Allen. “This tragedy is made even more painful because just on Sunday, my nephew got engaged.”
Leeanne Harripersadh, Allen’s niece, described the family as humble and loving, stating, “All we want is closure and justice. This cannot happen to such a humble family.”
Meanwhile, local leaders expressed their shock at the brutality of the crime.
Local councillor Conrad Nkosi Mhlongo told the POST that Allen Monswamy, was a local businessman and had recently obtained a grass cutting contract.
“This incident is shocking and we are devastated. There are rumours that there was a misunderstanding about money with the people who worked for the businessman. This is nothing but criminality,” he said.
Phumlani Vezi, operational manager of IPSS Rescue, confirmed cooperation between the victims' family and police facilitated tracking the suspects through Kraidon’s cellphone. “The crime is very shocking, gruesome, and traumatising. Seven members of the same family killed is scary,” he said.
The three suspects, aged 21, 26, and 28, are due to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday, while the search continues for the remaining two at large.
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