Mother alleges police corruption after daughter's death

After losing her daughter, Khitana (Tana), to an alleged drunk driver, Dr Sharona Deonarain uncovers disturbing evidence of alleged police misconduct at Chatsworth SAPS. From claims of delayed blood alcohol testing to vanishing evidence, this mother's fight reveals systemic failures in SA's justice system. Read the powerful first-hand account of one woman's determination to hold authorities accountable on Page 2

- NADIA KHAN

DR SHARONA Deonarain with her daughter, Khitana.

(Supplied)

A CHATSWORTH mother has raised the alarm on alleged corruption at the Chatsworth police station after her daughter was killed by a "drunk driver" on the Higginson Highway on August 18.

Dr Sharona Deonarain, of Arena Park, said it had been 10 weeks since her daughter, Khitana (Tana), lost her life, and despite “clear evidence”, no arrest had been made.

She has called on the provincial SAPS and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) to investigate.

Deonarain said on the evening before the tragedy, her daughter had been at the home of her partner and best friend, Cameron Naidoo.

“It was a Sunday, and Cameron had visited us during the day. Later that afternoon, they went to his home and were watching movies with his family. Tana also had some assignments to complete. Later that evening, she messaged me to say she was sorry she had missed her curfew, as she had fallen asleep. She said she was going to come home.

“It was not even half-an-hour later, when Cameron called me and said, ‘Aunty Sharona, we have been involved in an accident.’

“When I asked him if they were okay, he said ‘yes’. I immediately woke my husband up and said we had to go as Tana was in an accident.

“I called Cameron to tell him we were on the way, and asked again if they were okay. He assured me they were okay, and I could hear Tana in the background.

“From our home to the accident scene, which was near the Moorton and Arena Park off-ramp, was about 2.5km. We arrived there in about five minutes. But what we saw was not what we ever expected. There was absolute carnage,” she said.

Deonarain said she jumped out of the car and began walking towards the accident scene.