Supplied
Lervene Naidoo and her husband, Vijen, with their sons Cameron, two, and Yuvesh, four. Vijen and the children died on Monday when he drove his vehicle into Richards Bay harbour.
A man whose family have acknowledged he killed himself and his two sons by driving his car into Richards Bay harbour on Monday because he was chronically depressed has highlighted the importance of professional support for people suffering from the mental illness.
Vijen Naidoo, 35, and his two sons – Yuvesh, four, and Cameron, two – drowned when his silver Toyota Tazz plunged into the harbour. Their bodies were pulled from the water about 20 minutes later by paramedics, but they could not be revived.
A spokesman for the bereaved family, Strini Chetty, said the death of the three was not an accident and had left the children’s mother and |extended family devastated.
It was reported that Naidoo had been depressed after his wife, Lervene, told him she was filing for a divorce and was applying for custody of the children. His failed attempt to start a business had also left him bankrupt, which, it is thought, contributed to his suicide.
Chetty said the couple, who had been married for 15 years, had been living with Lervene’s parents.
“We are still trying to establish what happened. Lervene’s parents are traumatised and they need counsel- ling, which will be arranged after the funeral.”
Chetty said the funeral would take place in Richards Bay and Stanger, Naidoo’s home town, today.
A spokeswoman for the Transnet National Ports Authority, Tessie Gower, said the incident took place at the small-craft harbour, which was less secure than the rest of the harbour, because it was a public space.
She said there had been similar incidents in the past.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate tragedy. Stricter procedures will be put in place to ensure future incidents such as this never take place,” she said.
Cassey Chamber, of the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, said society should not judge Naidoo.
“It is impossible for outsiders (society) to understand what people go through before they commit suicide,” Chambers said.
When a parent killed his children, it was usually out of love, she said.
“He might have killed the children to protect them from suffering, as he thought no one would look after them after he had killed himself,” she said.
She advised those in Naidoo’s situation to make contact with her support group, which had branches throughout the country, through its toll-free helpline 080 012 1314.
