A heartbroken Umhlanga mother has revealed how her daughter was threatened and stalked by her ex-boyfriend before he allegedly murdered her and turned the gun on himself in the car park of Gateway mall last Sunday.
Sasha Lee Monique Shah, 25, a University of KwaZulu-Natal honours graduate in accounting, was laid to rest during an emotional farewell a few days after the incident.
It is alleged her ex-boyfriend, Kyle Inderlall, with whom she had been in a 12-year relationship, followed her to the mall on Sunday evening, where he shot and killed her before turning the gun on himself.
Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala said a murder investigation is under way.
“Charges of murder and an inquest are being investigated by Durban North police.
“It is alleged that on October 30 2022 at 6.40pm, the 25-year-old woman was shot and killed by a known suspect while in a parking lot on Palm Boulevard in Umhlanga. The suspect was also found [dead] with a gunshot wound. The circumstances are being investigated.”
Shah’s mother Jessica started a tribute page on Facebook for her daughter, which has since gained about 3,800 followers. She laid bare details that led up to Shah’s death, including threatening text messages from Inderlall and an application for an interim protection order.
TimesLIVE Premium reached out to the grieving mother, but she did not respond.
In her Facebook post Jessica said she wanted to set the record straight and help prevent more victims of gender-based violence.
“Our hearts are shattered. Sasha Lee left her home in Umhlanga and went to Gateway Mall to purchase some items at Dis-Chem. She was followed by her ex-boyfriend, who had been stalking her for a few months.
“He disrespected the protection order served to him. Members of our immediate family were keeping a close eye on her despite a protection order against him.”
Jessica revealed Inderlall was her daughter’s first boyfriend and that she had been in a relationship with him for 12 years.
“She chose to leave after giving him many chances to change his wrongs. She made it very clear to him she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him, and she ended the relationship in June 2022.
“He did not accept that and began to stalk her. He followed her at every opportunity. He messaged her over 100 times a day, called from five to six different numbers daily. He was asked by myself and her immediate family members to stay away from her, to no avail.
“She pleaded with members of his family to assist her as well, showing them the threats he made to her. They dismissed her concerns,” she alleged.
“He refused to accept her leaving. He made her miserable, and she lived in fear. She reached out to Pinetown police, who referred her to the Pinetown court for a protection order.”
She said the date for the court hearing to make the interim order final would have been last Friday.
Our family did everything the legal and correct way, and it got us nowhere. Our justice system has failed us, just as it has so many others
— Jessica Shah
“He caught us all off guard on Sunday [last week] when he removed the number plates from his vehicle, because his number plate details were given to security at our home. He followed her, went up to her vehicle and shot her in cold blood, almost an hour after she had left her home.
“Our family and friends are devastated by the manner in which our innocent, dignified, humble, sweet child was murdered so viciously.
“Our family did everything the legal and correct way, and it got us nowhere. Our justice system has failed us, just as it has so many others.”
The post, which has since gone viral, has been met with anger, outrage and sympathy.
One Facebook user said: “I read this, and it gave me shivers ... this could have been me if I did not leave SA 'cause my ex-boyfriend used to stalk me as well after I ended things.”
Another said: “I can't imagine your heartbreak and pain of losing a child ... I can't imagine the devastating circumstances that she was exposed to and that ultimately culminated in her murder ... YOU are Sasha's voice now, so fulfil her purpose ... Be heard so loudly that this never happens to another one of our daughters. I applaud your stance as a mother and don't let anyone tarnish her memory.”
Inderlall’s family told media he was heartbroken by their break-up and described their relationship as “on and off again”.
They said he was concerned the protection order would harm his reputation.
The family said they were shocked when they had received a call from Shah’s mother informing them the former lovers were dead.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.