‘No one has been held accountable’: Family marks two years since Zarah Ramsamy’s death - IOL

Zarah Ramsamy was killed during a hijacking in September 2024.

Two years after 11-year-old Zarah Ramsamy was killed during a hijacking in Malvern, her family says the investigation has stalled and no one has been arrested.

This week, her father Barnes Ramsamy, spoke of the heartbreak his family faced each day, as her killers remain at large.

Zarah, a pupil at Penzance Primary School pupil, was killed in a hijacking on September 11, 2024, outside a fast food outlet in Malvern, while her family was celebrating her success after a school concert.

CCTV footage captured Zarah hiding under her mother’s Toyota Fortuner after she saw the gunmen accost her mother.

The hijackers then drove over her twice before they fled in the vehicle.

Ramsamy said they honoured her death anniversary with a luncheon with family and friends.

He said life has been tough for him and his family since Zarah’s death, and said the case had gone cold, leading to them losing faith in the criminal justice system.

“It has been tough getting through each day. As a parent, it never gets better on the emotional side.

Zarah Ramsamy would have been 13 this year.

“We are disappointed that it has been two years now, and nobody was held accountable for Zarah’s death. 

“The case seems to have reached a dead end. We expected arrests because there was footage of the incident that was released, but to date, the case has been at a standstill. Police are dragging their feet with the case. The arresting officer only contacted us once since my daughter’s death.

“That is the biggest disappointment for us. We have no idea what is happening with the case, and there has been no courtesy from the police to us as grieving parents,” Ramsamy added.

He claimed police was not treating his daughter’s case as a priority, while other high profile matters were being investigated thoroughly.

“We are thankful that we have had the support of family, friends, and the community during our two-year journey of grief and sorrow.

“A candlelight vigil will be hosted by the Malvern Community Policing Forum (CPF) and we are inviting the community to attend, and share a moment with us in honour of our daughter,” he added.

Kevin Pillay, chairperson of the Malvern CPF, said the candlelight vigil will be held on Friday, September 18, at the Church on the Move in Main Road, in Malvern, at 6:30pm.

“With love and remembrance, we invite the Malvern community to join us in honouring the beautiful memory of Zarah . Let us come together to light a candle, remember her and stand with her family in love and support,” Pillay added.