Kamini Garbaran, a 44-year-old mother, was found bludgeoned to death in her bed at her Parkgate home in Verulam, South Africa, on Thursday afternoon. According to her sister, Marlini Munsamy, Garbaran had been a victim of alleged gender-based violence (GBV) at the hands of a man known to her. Munsamy claims that the man called her at around 9am on Thursday and told her that Garbaran was dead.
Munsamy alleges that the man had a history of abusing Garbaran, with the abuse starting in 2023 and escalating in 2024. She claims that the man had held Garbaran hostage and repeatedly assaulted her, resulting in serious head injuries. In May 2025, Garbaran was left in a coma for two months after a severe assault. Munsamy also alleges that the man had burnt Garbaran on her face and head while holding her hostage in December 2024.
The alleged abuse had severe and long-lasting effects on Garbaran. After the 2025 assault, she was left with 24 to 48 hours to live, and her family was told that she would never fully recover. Although she learned to walk and talk again, she was never the same person and was diagnosed with schizophrenia due to her head injuries. Munsamy claims that despite the abuse, Garbaran had reconciled with the man after he was released from prison in December 2025.
Gareth Naidoo, head of KZN VIP Emergency Services, reported that Garbaran was found with horrific injuries to her face, head, and body. She had sustained blunt force trauma injuries, visible bruising to her entire face, and missing teeth. Naidoo stated that police were at the scene and arrested the man. Neighbors reportedly told police that they had previously reported incidents of suspected domestic violence at the property.
Vanessa Chetty, a GBV and femicide activist, stated that too little is done too late to support victims of GBV. She emphasized that violence in the early stages needs to be reported before it escalates to life-threatening situations and murder. Chetty also noted that Garbaran's murder was a slap in the face to the upcoming 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.
Chetty called for a 365-day activism campaign, rather than just the 16-day period, to prevent violence against women and children. She encouraged family, friends, and neighbors to report any instances of abuse to the police to prevent further violence. Munsamy is still waiting for information on when her sister's body will be released for burial and expressed frustration with the difficulty in obtaining information.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of GBV in South Africa and the need for increased support and action to prevent such tragedies. The police and emergency services have extended their condolences to Garbaran's family and loved ones. An investigation into the murder is ongoing, and the suspect is currently in custody.
Key points
- The suspect had a history of abusing the victim, including a previous conviction for attempted murder.
- The victim's family was not allowed to view her body or identify her at the mortuary due to not sharing the same surname.
- Activists are calling for increased action and support to prevent GBV and femicide in South Africa.
