KEY POINTS
- A gunman shot and killed 28-year-old Michaela Moonsamy Yellapen outside a restaurant in Boksburg.
- The case has been moved to the regional court division ahead of a pre-trial conference.
- Her father, Pastor Jason Moonsamy, spoke about the unbearable grief their family has endured.
Nearly a year after two men allegedly shot and killed a Gauteng woman during a night out with her friend, her father has spoken about the “unbearable” grief and pain their family continues to endure.
Gunmen opened fire on 28-year-old Michaela Moonsamy Yellapen, her husband, Cameron Yellapen, her brother, Jeremy Moonsamy, and two friends outside a restaurant in Boksburg in May last year, killing her.
A gunman shot Michaela, a financial accountant at a law firm, once in the head, and she took her last breath in her brother’s arms.
Last Thursday, the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court transferred the case to the regional court division ahead of a pre-trial conference.
Family struggles with grief
Speaking to the POST this week, Michaela’s father, Pastor Jason Moonsamy, said their family finally felt the “wheels of justice” turning.
“There has been major progress in the case, and we are hoping for swift justice.”
Jason described the past few months as extremely difficult.
“We still cannot come to terms with Michaela not being around anymore. It is impossible for us to accept her death. We go to bed and wake up hoping she will walk through the door. When we spend time with family or friends outside our home, there is some laughter or smiles, but when we get home, we are back to the reality that she is no longer with us.
“Michaela was my everything, my heartbeat, and the apple of my eye. She was always proudly ‘daddy’s girl.’ Before her death, I had suffered a few heart attacks, and she would say, ‘Daddy, please don’t die. You can’t leave me. If you go, I have to go with you.’
Today, I am forced to live without her. It is not fair that, because of others’ actions, our family, who has never experienced such pain, has to bear this unbearable grief for the rest of our lives,” he said.
Forgiveness and a call for justice
Jason said he does not harbor any hatred toward her alleged killer.
“On the day of her funeral, while I was walking onto the platform to give a tribute, I felt a great sense of love come over me. While the pain and hurt were very deep, I stood there and thought of my child’s killer. I thought, ‘I still love you and forgive you.’ That feeling has not changed to this day. But I pray and hope that one day, the person realizes what they have done and decides to change their life for the better.”
Despite his forgiveness, Jason emphasized the need for justice
“While we forgive them, we also want accountability. These kinds of actions, especially taking a life, must not be condoned. We cannot allow another father, mother, or family to be left broken. The court must send a clear message that society will not tolerate such behavior.
Support from the community
Jason expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support the family has received from people in South Africa and around the world.
“Since the news of her death, we have received hundreds of encouraging messages. We are grateful for these kind words, along with the support of the people standing with us. It has given us the strength to continue fighting for justice for our dear Michaela.”
The events leading to the shooting
At the time of the incident, Michaela’s brother, Jeremy, recounted what happened that night.He said his sister had gone out to dinner with a friend, while he was having a “guys’ night out” with her husband and a few friends at the same restaurant.When Michaela finished her dinner, she joined them at their table.
“One of my friends accidentally bumped into another man at the restaurant. The man was with a group that was intoxicated, and they started an argument with us. Seeing this, the bouncers told all of us to call it a night and escorted us out of the restaurant,” he recalled.
As they walked to their cars, one of the men from the group allegedly went to his vehicle to retrieve a gun.
“He fired a shot into the air, and we were all stunned. Then, he fired a second shot, which hit my friend in the face. At that point, we all ran for cover. My sister and I tried to duck behind some cars. The man fired a third shot, which hit my sister.”
Jeremy said another man in the group, who was also allegedly armed, fired two more shots at them.
“This time, another friend of mine was shot in the leg. When the shooting stopped, Cameron went to look for the shooters. When I looked at my sister, she took two steps back and said, ‘Jeremy, I have been shot.’ She then fell in my arms…” Following the incident, authorities charged one of the men with murder and two counts of attempted murder.
