DURBAN - THE family of a 58-year-old Muden sugarcane farmer have been left devastated after he was shot dead on Sunday.
Ajay Haripersaad, 58, was shot dead, allegedly over a cattle dispute in Muden, near Greytown, on Sunday.
It is alleged that a known male had been involved with an altercation with farm workers on Haripersaad’s farm. The dispute was over stray cattle that had been locked up by Haripersaad’s workers to prevent the cattle from grazing in the sugar cane crops.
Ajay’s son Pranesh Haripersaad said his father was shot while trying to resolve the altercation between the farm worker and the man, who he alleged had been armed with a rifle.
“My father heard the commotion while he was in a vehicle with his driver and went towards the man and tried to reason with him. The man threatened my father by pointing the hunting rifle at my father. He then shot my father and he fell back.”
Haripersaad said that the family was devastated after the killing of his father.
“It is very difficult for me; my father never had any major issues with community members or farmers in the area.”
He added that his father was a humble man who had supplied vegetables to community members.
“My father used to grow a lot of vegetables in the past and also supplied community members with free vegetables.”
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed the murder.
“It is alleged that on October 24, 2021, at 3.30, police received a complaint of a shooting that took place at Graceland in Muden. Police proceeded to the scene and found the body of a 58-year-old male victim with gunshot wounds to the chest and hand.”
Mbele added that a case of murder had been opened at Muden police station.
THE MERCURY