The family of 54-year-old Rajendra Ramdan, a Greytown businessman who went missing from his home, has expressed trauma and desperation as police investigate his murder. Ramdan's body was discovered in Muden on September 20, four days after he left his home with someone known to him. His sister, Rita Singh, said the family was devastated by his death and struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
According to Singh, CCTV footage showed Ramdan leaving his home at 8am on September 16 with someone he knew. He never returned, and Singh had visited her brother's home on the day he disappeared, finding nothing suspicious. The family immediately began searching for Ramdan, appealing to people in the town for information about his whereabouts. Several shopkeepers recalled seeing Ramdan shopping in town before his disappearance, but no one could confirm seeing him on the day he went missing.
The search for Ramdan ended in tragedy on September 20, when police informed the family that his body had been discovered in Muden. Singh said the family had remained hopeful that he would return home safely, but were shocked to learn that he had been killed and his body thrown off a cliff. The family was horrified by the circumstances in which his body was allegedly disposed of, with Singh questioning how anyone could carry out such an act.
Ramdan's body was found floating in a stream in the Vondela area in Muden, and police reported that he had been stabbed by an unknown suspect. The motive for the killing is currently unknown. The body was badly decomposed after remaining in the water for several days during a period of heavy rainfall, making it difficult for the family to make funeral arrangements.
The family held a funeral on September 23 in a sealed coffin, as Ramdan's body was badly injured. Singh said the family did not want mourners to remember Ramdan through the circumstances of his death. Ramdan was the youngest of six siblings, and his death has left the family struggling with grief and unanswered questions.
Singh described Ramdan as a gentle and compassionate person who regularly helped vulnerable people in the community. She said his willingness to assist others made the circumstances of his death even more difficult for the family to comprehend. The family is now waiting for answers from police as they attempt to establish what happened between the time Ramdan left his home and the discovery of his body.
The family is appealing for answers and accountability, with Singh saying they want justice for Ramdan and for the person who took his life to tell them why. KZN police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that Muden police were investigating a case of murder, but could not yet share much information about the case.
Key points
- Rajendra Ramdan, a 54-year-old businessman from Greytown, was murdered and his body thrown off a cliff in Muden.
- The family of the victim is seeking answers and accountability from the police.
- The motive for the killing is currently unknown, and police are still investigating the case.
