The family of Joel Maila, a Boksburg Correctional Services official, is still reeling after he was killed in an apparent attempted cash-in-transit (CIT) heist near Carnival City earlier this month.
Maila, who served as a warder at Boksburg prison, was fatally injured when the cash van, a G4S CIT vehicle, which was trying to evade robbers, overturned and rammed the family’s car (a Mercedes-Benz) several times.
The robbers were seen driving in three cars, a Mercedes-Benz and two Volkswagen Golfs.
Maila, who was travelling with his wife and two children, died on scene.
His wife and the two children also sustained injuries and were all rushed to the Alberton Netcare Hospital for further treatment.
In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser at their home, located on the Boksburg Correctional Services premises, the deceased’s wife, Preciouscinda Maila, said she is deeply saddened by the untimely death of her husband.
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“The incident has only brought sorrow in my life because I witnessed my husband dying for something that had nothing to do with him.
“It was our wedding anniversary, and we decided to go to Carnival Mall to celebrate it, but things changed completely as we were on our way back home.
“We noticed three cars going after the CIT vehicle before the driver lost control and rolled three times on top of our car,” said Maila.
She described her late husband as an honest, caring, loving, neat and humble man who was never implicated in any form of corruption.
“He is also described as a man who valued education and, as a chairperson of Popcru, he was always available to help his colleagues in times of need.
Maila appeals to anyone with any information about the culprits to come forward and inform the police at Brakpan Police Station, where a murder case and three attempted murder cases were opened.
“As a family, we have lost a breadwinner. My children were traumatised when they witnessed what happened to their father. They are always sad,” Maila added.
The deceased was laid to rest on January 15 in Boksburg.
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