On 11 September 2024, 11-year-old Zarah Ramsamy was killed outside a McDonald’s in Malvern, Durban, when hijackers stole her mother’s Toyta Fortuner and drove over the Grade 5 pupil twice. Two years later, no person has been arrested for her murder, and the family says they have been left in the dark by police.
CCTV footage from the scene captured the child fleeing the vehicle and hiding underneath it before the hijackers fled. Her parents, Barns and Shay Ramsamy, have continued to speak out as the investigation appears to have stalled.
“It has been tough getting through each day. As a parent, it never gets better on the emotional side,” Barns Ramsamy said.
The family last received communication from the investigating officer about a year ago. Since then, Shay Ramsamy said they have received no updates.
“In the last year, we haven’t even received a call from our Investigating Officer. We haven’t received any updates regarding this case. This case has gone cold. We haven’t even received a courtesy call,” she told reporters.
In a statement to Newswatch, KwaZulu-Natal police said no arrests have been made. They are awaiting a forensic report on certain pieces of evidence, which they hope will provide a breakthrough.
The only person charged in connection with the case was Constable Minenhle Makhaye, a Cato Manor police officer. He was arrested in October 2024 after being found in possession of the mother’s bank card and linked to purchasing alcohol with it on the day after the hijacking. However, the case against him was struck off the court roll on 1 July 2025 by Magistrate Scelo Zuma, due to a lack of progress and a missing docket. Makhaye was released from custody.
Barns Ramsamy expressed frustration at the stalled investigation.
“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,” he said.
The Malvern Community Policing Forum has organised a candlelight vigil in Zarah’s memory on Friday 18 September 2026 at 6:30 pm at the Church on the Move on Main Road, Malvern. CPF chairperson Kevin Pillay appealed for community support.
“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 said.
The Ramsamy family will mark the day privately, but the public vigil is expected to draw residents demanding accountability. The trauma continues to define their home life.
“Our home has gone from one filled with children’s laughter to one of silence. My sons, who are still traumatised, remain in their rooms and they live in silence,” Shay Ramsamy said.
It remains unclear when the forensic results will be ready. The police have not indicated a timeline. The family is calling for the case to be prioritised, noting that the investigating officer has not contacted them for a year.
What is still unknown: The identity of the hijackers, the progress of the forensic analysis, and whether the case against Makhaye will be reinstated. Cape Flats News will check back with the family and police for updates ahead of the vigil.