‘There is a void’: Mother remembers Sasha Lee four years after Gateway Mall killing - IOL

Sasha Lee Monique Shah with her mother Jessica Shah.

Four years after Sasha Lee Monique Shah was shot dead by her former boyfriend at Gateway Mall, her mother Jessica Shah is mourning her loss, supporting abuse survivors and seeking answers about the handling of protection orders.

Sasha Lee, 25, was shot dead on October 30, 2022.

“I still feel shock and unhappiness. It seems like just yesterday my daughter left home with a friend to go shopping, and never returned,” said Shah.

She said her daughter was confronted by her ex-boyfriend, Kyle Inderlall, of Phoenix at the mall parking area, where he shot her multiple times before turning the gun on himself.

At the time of the murder suicide, Shah had revealed that her daughter was granted an interim protection order against Inderlall on September 22, 2022 by the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. 

Shah said Inderlall had stalked Shah and would call her more than 100 times a day.

“He used different telephone numbers. He also removed the number plates from his vehicle and followed her.

“There are no words to describe what it means for a mother to watch her healthy, educated and vibrant child leave home, never to return alive. 

“Three days later my precious daughter returned home in a coffin.

“On the hard days, especially on her death anniversary, my heart cramps when I think of Sasha. Is my child really dead? I question myself. Death cannot be reversed. 

“You relive those moments. We did everything together. I have not only lost a daughter but a close friend. That is a void that cannot be filled,” added Shah.

She said life has not been the same since her daughter’s death. 

She said even though she was a devout Christian, she stopped celebrating Christmas or other special moments in life.

“Coping with losing my daughter has been a difficult experience. Prayer has helped me over the past four years.

“In memory of my daughter, I recently launched a non-profit organisation named Purple Rose aimed at helping individuals experiencing abuse and victims of domestic violence.

“I will continue my pursuit for justice in reference to Sasha Lee’s protection order.

“I will continue to fight for the police officer who served the protection order to Inderlall to be criminally charged because his (Inderlall’s) firearm was not taken away from him after the protection order was granted. This means my daughter’s death could have been avoided.”

At the time of her death, Shah was a Graduate Accountant working for the Fidelity Group.

She aspired to become a chartered accountant.