A 34-year-old woman didn’t suspect anything sinister when her husband insisted that she accompany him to his attorney to fetch documents.
But the woman became suspicious when she noticed they were driving off to an isolated area. It was then that she was dragged out of the car and two men attempted her strangle her while her husband watched. It is alleged that the husband had planned for her to be killed, but the woman survived.
Now Ramith Aneerudh, 37, is being sought for the attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery of his wife.
The victim contacted the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) on Sunday afternoon, April 14, asking for help to locate her husband and two of his accomplices.
Spokesperson for RUSA, Prem Balram said the woman had explained that on Saturday April 13, at about 1.30pm, her husband had advised her that he needed to visit an attorney to fetch documents and insisted that she accompany him.
“The husband then drove them both in his wife’s white GWM vehicle with registration ND 538 455 to an isolated location in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban,” said Mr Balram.
“While questioning his intentions regarding the unusual location, a man later identified as Kyle Clayton opened her door and dragged the woman out of the vehicle. Her husband thereafter took her two cellphones away from her. Clayton and a second male, identified as Tevan, began strangling her with a rope. Her husband watched and instructed the men to speed up the process while his wife was being strangled.”
Thereafter the woman lost consciousness and woke up in a sugar cane plantation in Ifafa, approximately 45 kilometres from Amanzimtoti, said Mr Balram.
The woman was in the front seat of a silver Opel Corsa driven by Mr Clayton. It is believed that her body was to have been dumped in the sugar cane plantation, added Mr Balram. Her husband and Tevan were not with them.
“The woman said she begged Clayton to spare her life but he ignored her pleas and made telephonic contact with someone informing them that she was still alive.
“The victim believed that Clayton was in contact with her husband. During the conversation, he advised the person that he had no fuel and cigarettes,” said Mr Balram.
“Clayton advised the female that her husband was returning. He became agitated after a lengthy waiting period and drove off with the victim. He advised her that he was proceeding to purchased cigarettes. While travelling at approximately 80 km/h, the woman opened the car door and jumped from the moving vehicle.”
Mr Balram said the woman fled to three men who were waiting on the side of the road. Their female employer arrived shortly thereafter and the victim explained her situation. Mr Clayton attempted to convince them that he was assisting her but drove off when they contacted law enforcement.
“The female employer then provided the woman with a cellphone to contact family and transported the victim to her residence in the area. Her family then waited for relatives to fetch the victim who was thereafter transported back to Durban, where she received medical attention.”
The woman later established that R34 000 in cash had been transferred from her bank account, said Mr Balram.
“She scrutinised her bank statement and discovered that R300 had been transferred via E-Wallet while she was being held captive in Ifafa. The money may have been paid to Clayton to purchase fuel and cigarettes.
“She believed that her own money had been used to pay the suspects to kill her. She saved the cellphone number and viewed the WhatsApp status. She confirmed from the display picture that the number belonged to Kyle Clayton. The female has since received multiple voice notes and calls from unfamiliar numbers from individuals informing her that they were going to kill her if the matter was pursued,” said Mr Balram.
A criminal case (126/03/2024) was registered at the Amanzimtoti SAPS. The investigating officer informed a reaction officer during a telephonic conversation that the suspects have been evading police since the matter was reported. He requested that the information be circulated in an attempt to apprehend the trio. The victim and the investigating officer has granted permission for the use of the images published with this story.
The victim’s car was recovered by RUSA officers in the Umdoni District on the South Coast on Monday April 15. It had been found at a remote rural farmhouse, which is alleged to belong to Mr Clayton’s girlfriend. The three men are still on the run.
The suspects are considered dangerous and should not be approached, said Mr Balram. If you have information regarding the whereabouts of these men, kindly contact Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) on 086 1234 333. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
