A horrifying case of domestic violence has left the Phoenix community in shock after an elderly woman was killed and her daughter critically injured in a vicious attack inside their home on Hexham Road, Westham, on the evening of Monday, June 9.
Emergency teams from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded swiftly after multiple distress calls from neighbours. The alert came when a concerned relative arrived and, unable to reach the occupants, forced his way inside — only to find the two women lying in pools of blood.
Upon arrival, responders discovered 83-year-old Kamatchie Naicker had suffered numerous stab wounds to her face and body. She was declared dead on the scene. Her daughter, 63-year-old Shirley Appalsamy, was found with her throat slit and multiple deep cuts to her face, neck, and hands. She was stabilized at the scene and rushed to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
Before being taken to the hospital, Appalsamy managed to whisper the identity of her alleged attacker — her own son.
Two knives believed to be used in the assault — a butcher’s knife and a bent kitchen blade — were found at the scene. Police opened a case of murder and attempted murder and quickly made progress in the investigation.
By Wednesday, authorities had tracked and arrested a close family member of the victims in Amaoti, north of Durban. Although the suspect’s name has not been publicly released due to ongoing investigations, police confirmed that it is Appalsamy’s 20-year-old son.
RUSA’s Prem Balram stated that the severely wounded mother provided crucial information that led detectives from Phoenix SAPS to act swiftly. The arrest followed dramatic developments, including the suspect being handed over by friends who grew suspicious of his erratic behaviour.
According to one of them, the accused showed up at their home dishevelled and claimed to be hiding from drug dealers over a R12,000 debt. However, when the friend recognised his house in RUSA’s crime scene photos online, they contacted the police.
“He never admitted anything, but the signs were there. We did what we had to do — it was the right thing,” the friend said, emphasizing that neither he nor his brother were involved and had cooperated fully with authorities.
As the investigation continues, police have urged the public to allow due process to take place and are withholding sensitive details. The loss of Kamatchie Naicker, a gentle grandmother of nine, has devastated her family and shaken the local community. Her daughter, a mother of two, continues to fight for her life.
According to police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, a 20-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident and appeared before the Verulam Magistrates Court on Friday, June 13, 2025.
