Kimberley - “My son was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.” These were the words of the heartbroken mother of 29-year-old Ashwin Malan, who died after he was shot several times by unknown gunmen at Atlantis Guest House in Kimberley.
“I do not believe the people who shot my son were out to kill him,” said Stephanie Cloete.
Cloete, who owns the guest house, said that she had received a call from the receptionist last Thursday night, telling her that her son had been shot.
“She said Ashwin had been shot. I jumped into my car and rushed to the guest house. I found Ashwin in a pool of blood at the door of the room where he was staying.
“According to the receptionist, a car pulled up to the guest house gate and hooted.
“She went closer and there were four men inside the car who said they wanted to book three rooms.
“She opened the electric gate to let them in. They then drove into the premises and took a suitcase from the car.
“As she went to do the booking, they grabbed her. Two of the men pinned her to the ground and one held a gun to her head. She then screamed.”
Cloete said that she believed that her son was shot after he responded to the receptionist’s screams.
“According the receptionist, one of the guys switched off the main switch for the lights.
“However, there are three main switches and the lights were still on in Ashwin’s room.
“I think that as he opened his door and the light shone on him, the perpetrators realised that there was someone else in the house and reacted.”
She said that her son was shot three times.
“He was shot in the hand, heart and head. I heard that they used hollow bullets.”
Cloete said her son, who worked for Eskom in Petrusville, usually stayed at the guest house when he visited his family in Kimberley.
“It was nothing odd as we knew he would be staying at the guest house when he came home.
“It was also convenient for me as he used to assist me at the guest house.”
Cloete said her son was not a troublemaker and was a loner.
“Ashwin did not really have friends, his friends were his cousins and his family.
“He spent most of his time with family and did not go out much.
“People in the city did not really know him, so I cannot say that someone was out to get him.
“My suspicion is that it was a robbery gone wrong,” she said.
“Having no friends did not bother him as he was focused on his studies and his career.”
Cloete said that she had not returned to the premises since the incident.
“I cannot bring myself to go back there again.
“The guest house is a few streets away and I rushed over there immediately when I got the call.
“However, I did not see anyone speeding off in a car. I could see that those responsible had bumped the electric gate but there was nobody in the street. I know I will have to return there someday as I own the business and we organise functions as well, but it will take some time,” she said.
Police spokesman, Captain Sergio Kock, said on Thursday they were still searching for the perpetrators.
“The SAPS is requesting assistance in the tracing of the men involved in the murder of Malan.”
He said the incident happened last Thursday at around 10pm.
“Four men reportedly entered the guest house in Verwoerd Park under the pretense of booking a room. While three men assaulted the female manager and threatened her with a firearm, another suspect entered an adjacent room and shot Malan several times and he died on the scene.”
According to Kock, the suspects were travelling in a white bakkie.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Modise Moshotloa on 082 302 0407.
“All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. The investigation continues,” said Kock.
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