Community activist run over twice while protecting woman from ‘threatening’ ex-husband

NewsSportOpinionLifestyleEntertainmentNewsCommunity activist run over twice while protecting woman from ‘threatening’ ex-husbandYoshini Perumal|Published 2 hours agoCopy to ClipboardAsk AISham Govender was admitted to hospital due to serious injuries.

A community activist was seriously injured after being run over twice while helping a woman who was allegedly being threatened by her ex-husband.

Sham Govender, 55, the chairperson for the Mountain Rise Community Policing Forum (CPF), sustained injuries to his face, body, and head during the incident around 6am on Thursday.

His daughter, Kria Murugas, 30, said Govender had received a call from the woman, who lives near their home, on Wednesday night.

She said the woman knew that her father was a community leader and CPF chair so she sought his help when her ex-husband allegedly violated his protection order.

“She told my father that the man threatened her life, sending her messages that he was going to kill her.

“My father told her to report the incident to the police, and he too reported it. He also requested that police patrol and keep watch over her house that night.

“On Thursday morning, the woman was on her way to work and she was driving on our road when she noticed her ex-husband following her.

“She then stopped at our gate and she was hysterical. The man punched her window and he was hitting the car, threatening to kill her.”

Murugas said Govender opened the driveway gate and allowed the woman to park her car inside their yard.

She said he then closed the gate so that the man did not have access to the woman.

“The man then jumped into his car and drove off. He made a U-turn and then came at a high speed and knocked into my dad.

He then reversed and screamed at my father, saying that his job was to kill his wife, and he will take anyone out who tries to stop him.

“He ran over my father again, and this time my father was dragged under the car for a few metres.

“My father’s legs were stuck under the car.

“The man fled when my brother and security got to my father.”

She said her father was unconscious and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

“The man then drove to Mountain Rise police station and handed himself over to police.

“My mother, who witnessed the incident from the window as she was getting dressed that morning, is traumatised and cannot eat or sleep.”

Murugas said her father went against doctors recommendations and asked to be discharged from hospital on Saturday.

She said he was a former paramedic and firefighter, and had a passion for fighting GBV and crime.

“Throughout my life my father tried to make the community a better place. He did this while working as a paramedic and firefighter until he was medically boarded from work.

“He went against doctor’s orders and is now recovering at home so that he can be actively involved in the community again.

“Although he is unable to move, he is doing what he can while he is on strict bed rest for the next few weeks,” Murugas added.