A Silverglen family is reeling in shock and devastation after their attorney son was shot dead in a botched hijacking at the Westcliff off-ramp in Durban on Sunday night while returning home from a wedding.

Mohamad Zubair Pathon (30) was fatally shot in the neck. His older brother, Yusuf Pathon (36), was also in the vehicle at the time and was also shot. He is in critical condition.

Distraught brother-in-law Mohammed Riaz told the Rising Sun that the Pathon family is devastated over the tragic news and prays that Yusuf will recover speedily.

“We want the police to leave no stone unturned until my brother-in-law’s killers have been brought to justice. One killing is too many,” Riaz says.

He told the newspaper that Mohamad was a kind-hearted man who always put people before profits.

“During the month of Ramadan, he served his community with food. Charity was close to his heart. He was the type of attorney, who believed strongly in the preservation of justice. He was one who never wanted to represent those on the wrong side of the law,” adds Riaz.

Mohamad’s teary-eyed father says he lost a gem of a son who was compassionate, kind, and honest, and who had all the qualities of a good human being.

Community leader Saleem Adam adds: “The Pathon family has always selflessly served the community in many ways and has always uplifted the poor. The deceased was a young, aspiring lawyer who had so much to offer society. He was always helping underprivileged and less fortunate members of the Silverglen mosque and community. The community has been robbed of a community servant, killed in the prime of his life.”

According to information from the Chatsworth Crime Watch group, reports were received late on Sunday evening about an attempted hijacking. The vehicle was allegedly fired upon, and two occupants of a white Mercedes-Benz sustained gunshot injuries.

The communications officer of Chatsworth SAPS, Captain Cheryl Pillay, confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 22:30.