Mum’s relentless fight three years after daughter’s tragic murder

What should have been years filled with achievements and joy have instead been consumed by courtrooms, unanswered emails, and a relentless pursuit of justice. Nearly three years have passed since 25-year-old Sasha Lee Shah was gunned down in the Gateway Shopping Centre parking lot by her ex-boyfriend, Kyle Inderlall, who later turned the gun on himself. Yet for Sasha’s mother, Jessica Shah, time has stood still.

The North Coast Rising Sun spoke to Jessica, who shared not only her grief and thoughts on the loss of her daughter but also fighting a system she believes failed them both. “Our hearts are shattered and the light in our lives is dimmed. My fight for justice has halted my healing process. I am numb with grief,” she said.

According to Shah, her daughter had obtained an interim protection order against Inderlall and believed the firearm he used to take her life had been confiscated. She said that Sasha trusted the legal process, believing the police would enforce the magistrate’s instruction. But it never happened.

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“She was under the impression that it was removed when he was served the order. She was humble, timid, and law-abiding. She placed her trust in the police to protect her,” Shah said. However, the firearm was not removed from the perpetrator’s possession.

Shah, who describes herself as a single mother and a voice for her daughter, has since opened a case of contempt of court and perjury against the police captain responsible for enforcing the court order.

She says the same officer was found guilty of misconduct and contravening the Firearms Control Act, but only received a two-month unpaid suspension – a penalty she calls ‘deeply disappointing’.

“The issue of contempt of court, the contravention of the Domestic Violence Act, and the failure to perform her legal duty were conveniently omitted from the disciplinary proceedings. This is not justice. This is a cover-up,” Shah said.

Sasha’s death, according to Shah, could have been prevented. She said three other cases had been opened against Inderlall at the Phoenix police station, including one where he allegedly pointed a licensed firearm at another woman.

One victim had already filed a protection order against him in 2021. In another incident, Inderlall reportedly dragged an elderly man with his car. Despite this pattern of behaviour, Shah says no action was taken to remove his firearm.

“These were aggravating circumstances. The firearm should’ve been removed after the first incident. If that had been done, my daughter would still be alive today,” she said.
Adding to the heartbreak, Shah lost her own mother within a year of Sasha’s death, attributing it to the intensity of her grief.

A formal inquest held in the Durban Magistrates Court confirmed that Kyle Inderlall murdered Sasha before taking his own life. Yet Shah says the recommendations from the inquest – including that the case against the police captain be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions – remain unfulfilled.

“I am still waiting for the court transcript. I have called the detective at Phoenix police station, who is handling the case, but my calls are being evaded. My emails have even been blocked,” said Shah.

She believes the reassignment of the investigation back to Phoenix SAPS- the very station that allegedly failed her daughter – is a breach of ethical standards and compromises the integrity of the case.

“No organisation investigates its own colleagues. That’s not justice. That’s damage control,” she said.
In Shah’s eyes, justice for Sasha goes beyond conviction.

“Justice is accountability. It means the law is applied equally, without fear or favour. The officer who failed to carry out her duty must be prosecuted. The law exists – it must be enforced,” she added.

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She describes Sasha as a brilliant and compassionate soul, with dreams of working abroad. A UKZN graduate with two degrees and a CIMA student, Sasha was a tutor, artist, baker, and beloved friend.

“She was my only daughter. Quiet, shy, graceful. She brought light wherever she went. She never said a harsh word to anyone. She was respected and adored,” Shah added. A suicide note left by Inderlall suggested financial stress and delusions that Jessica had interfered in his relationship with Sasha – a belief Shah says was unfounded.

Today, Shah urges women in abusive relationships to speak out – and calls on the public to act, not remain silent.

“Get involved. Help protect women and children. Remove the stigma and stop covering for abusers. A firearm in a domestic violence situation must be removed – no exceptions,” she said.

Her message is clear: Sasha’s death must not be in vain. “We cannot keep saying ‘rest in peace’ while women are murdered because of police inaction. We need real change. We need justice – for Sasha and every woman like her,” she concluded. All attempts to obtain a comment from the South African Police Service regarding the above allegations proved futile at the time of this article being published.