Shallcross Father Gunned Down in His Sleep, Family Fears It Was a Hit to Silence a Witness

Murder of Durban father leaves family shattered, raises alarm over safety of State witnesses

In the quiet early hours of Tuesday morning, a father of two was shot more than 30 times in his sleep inside his Shallcross flat allegedly silenced because he was a key witness in an upcoming attempted murder trial.

Justin Pillay, 40, was no stranger to danger. A survivor of a previous shooting and the owner of a local towing company, Jujus Towing, he had narrowly escaped death once before. But this time, the gunmen made sure he wouldn’t.

Shot While Sleeping, In Front of His Father

According to distraught relatives, six armed men, posing as police officers, forced their way into Pillay’s Taurus Street home around 3am. They broke in through the back door, encountered his elderly father in the lounge, and marched straight to Justin’s bedroom.

“They shot him all over his face, head and body—more than 30 times,” said his sister, Sarah Pillay. “My father tried to stop them. He screamed. They shot at him too. The bullet went through his pillow. He’s lucky to be alive.”

Pillay’s other sister, Sandy Gangan, revealed that this was not the first time he had been targeted. In September 2024, gunmen entered his home and opened fire. He survived that attempt, but his employee was shot in the leg. That shooting led to Justin becoming a State witness in an attempted murder case, due to be heard in the Durban Regional Court this October.

A Silencing Before the Trial?

While the motive remains under investigation, family members believe Tuesday’s hit was an intentional execution meant to silence Justin before he could testify.

“We believe this was a revenge attack, stemming from that altercation last year,” Gangan said. “We won’t speculate beyond that, but the timing and violence suggest someone didn’t want Justin speaking in court.”

The gunmen, dressed in civilian clothing with some wearing balaclavas, reportedly claimed to be police officers. But CCTV footage from outside the flat reportedly shows no police uniforms, just a well-coordinated, ruthless home invasion.

A Life Cut Short

Justin was a familiar face in the Shallcross community. He ran his own towing business, supported his parents, and was a loving father to two children, aged 9 and 2.

“He was a people’s person,” said his sister. “He loved his family and was excited about expanding his business. Now his children will grow up without their father.”

The tragedy has deeply shaken the family. Sarah and Sandy said their father, Poobalan Govindsamy Pillay, suffered a stroke after last year’s shooting and is once again traumatised after witnessing this brutal attack.

Safety of Witnesses in the Spotlight

Justin’s killing has renewed concerns about witness protection and the criminal justice system’s ability to protect those who come forward.

If the motive behind this killing was indeed to silence a witness, it raises a critical question: How many other witnesses are living in fear?

At the time of publication, KwaZulu-Natal police had not responded to requests for comment. The investigation is ongoing.

Community Reacts: “No One Is Safe”

The Shallcross community is reeling. On social media, locals have called the killing “cowardly” and “devastating,” questioning whether justice can ever be served if witnesses are murdered in their own beds.

Some community leaders are demanding urgent action from the police and greater protection for those who risk their lives to help put criminals behind bars.

Justin Pillay’s murder is not just a family tragedy, it is a wake-up call about the growing boldness of those who believe they can kill without consequence.

As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: witnesses should never have to die for telling the truth.

{Source: IOL}

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