Mother's Day tragedy: couple die in fire

IOL News

15-05-2025

'I rushed to their property and also alerted other CPF members on our WhatsApp chat. I was the first person at the scene. At that point, it was unclear whether the couple were in the house or not. Some of the neighbours said no one was in the house. But we had to double check,' said Rajoo.
The couple's neighbour and chairperson of the Woodhurst Community Forum (CPF), Roy Rajoo, said he was getting ready to leave home when he noticed the couple's home was in flames.
Shanita, a mother of one, would have also celebrated her 61st birthday on Sunday.
Shanitha Jeevan, 61, and her husband Indran Naidoo, 65, of Woodhurst, were asleep when a fire broke out in the upper level of their double-storey home at around 5.30am on Sunday.
MOTHER'S Day took a tragic turn for a Chatsworth family, when a couple burnt to death during a fire at their home.
'I broke the lock on the front gate and got onto the property. However, I could not get into the house as the flames were intense and high. The fire department arrived a short while later. They broke down the front door to gain access into the house."
Rajoo said the firefighters found Shanitha near the door of one of the bedrooms, while Indran was found in another bedroom.
'They both died in the fire. It was traumatic to witness their bodies being removed from the scene. They were a well-known, pioneer couple in our area. At the time, we were afraid the fire would spread to the outbuilding. But when we broke down the door, the couple renting the outbuilding was not inside."
Garrith Jamieson, the spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, said the couple died after suffering severe burns.
The tenant, who did not want to be named, said she and her husband had rented the outbuilding from the Jeevan's for three years.
'We were not home at the time. On Saturday, my husband and I stayed at my mother-in-law's house. We woke up to frantic calls from neighbours, telling us that our house was on fire. When we got to the house, the firefighters were already putting the fire out. The mortuary van was there and we were told that Shanitha and Indran did not survive the fire. We were devastated."
She said that the couple, who had a son and two grandchildren, were loving and did everything together.
'Their son lives in Johannesburg. They loved him and they were proud of him. They were kind to us and treated us like their children. I did not feel like a tenant. I felt like their daughter. They were well-known in the community. Indran grew up in Woodhurst, so everyone was fond of him. They were down-to-earth and would be remembered for their kindness. They were there for me whenever I needed them."
She said the couple were devout Hindus and loved conducting their prayers together every day.
'They were proud to host their Hanuman prayers. Whenever Shanitha fasted, she made rhot (sweet offering) and distributed it to everyone in the community.
'They also loved their late night conversations and often had the front door opened. My husband and I enjoyed listening to them. They also loved watching soccer. Recently, we listened to them cheering on Liverpool, while they watched the match in their lounge. Shanitha took good care of Indran and they were a couple that we looked up to as role-models. She treated him like a king, and I am glad they are resting in peace together,' she added.
The couple's funeral was on Wednesday at the Clare Estate Crematorium.
THE POST