Tragedy in Phoenix: Mother Shares Heartbreaking Final Moments of Son Before Murder

Tragedy in Phoenix: Mother Shares Heartbreaking Final Moments of Son Before Murder

In Phoenix, grief has taken hold of the Saib family after the brutal kidnapping and murder of 24-year-old e-hailing driver Muhammed Muzaffar Saib. The young man, also an active member of the Phoenix Community Policing Forum (CPF), was targeted by an alleged syndicate reportedly preying on drivers in the area.

His mother, Shaakira Saib, recounted the harrowing last hours she spent with her son, a sequence of ordinary acts that would tragically be his last.

“Last Monday, Muzaffar took me to the doctor because I was unwell,” she said. “On the way back, he bought me a milkshake and a chocolate cake. He told me to eat the treats in the morning. That was the last time I saw my baby.”

By Tuesday morning, he had vanished after leaving his girlfriend’s home around 9pm the night before to drop off passengers. His disappearance prompted frantic searches by family, neighbours, and security personnel that lasted more than 48 hours, with hope holding out until Wednesday when the unthinkable happened: his body was discovered in a stream near Rydalvale Grounds, just 200 metres from his home.

A Community in Shock

Captain Ntathu Ndlovu of KZN Police confirmed that Muzaffar’s vehicle was recovered in Bhambayi, with suspects tracked down and four arrests made, including two minors. The suspects are expected to apply for bail in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court next week.

For the Saib family, the sense of disbelief is profound. “I thought he might have been a victim of a hijacking,” Shaakira Saib said. “When the car was found, I still hoped he would come home. Identifying his body was my worst nightmare.”

Muzaffar’s father, Aslam, spoke of his son’s ambition to join the SAPS next month and the vital role he played in the CPF. “He was instrumental in recovering stolen vehicles and worked closely with police and security companies,” he said.

Teenage Syndicate Sparks Outrage

According to the Saib family, the syndicate behind Muzaffar’s murder includes teenagers with prior criminal records. The head of the group is reportedly only 16. Both parents and community members are calling for the suspects to be denied bail, citing ongoing risk to public safety.

“This is not just a loss for our family,” Aslam said. “It’s a warning to the community. E-hailing drivers are easy targets, and these young people are already committing serious crimes with no supervision. The system must act decisively.”

A Narrow Escape

The danger was underscored by a fellow e-hailing driver, who narrowly escaped a similar fate a week earlier in Shawham Place. The 31-year-old, who asked not to be named, described being held at a house by three of the same teenage suspects, who threatened him and stole money from his account.

“I could not get out of the yard. They owned vicious dogs and were discussing how to assault and rob me,” he said. Police eventually intervened, and he was released, but fear kept him from returning to work.

“When I heard about Muzaffar, I realised it was the same syndicate. We take precautions, but drivers are still becoming victims daily,” he added, urging authorities to pursue the network more aggressively.

Call for Justice

For the Saib family and Phoenix residents, the murder has highlighted vulnerabilities in driver safety and youth crime supervision. Community members are rallying to ensure bail is denied, while law enforcement continues to investigate further syndicate connections.

Shaakira Saib summed up the heartbreak in a single sentence: “He made our house alive. He was close to his grandmother, he played with her, hugged her and now, he is gone.”

The tragedy has left Phoenix shaken, and the hope of justice now rests on a swift and decisive response from the courts and police.

{Source: IOL}

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