I am starting this petition in the hopes that there are more citizens, who are tired of unsolved murders; tired of living in a country, where the police work hand in hand with the criminals.

Just like Jeana Gopal (Jodie Gopal’s daughter), will always see her father as her hero, We will also see my beloved brother, a son, colleague and friend Jodie the same way. Standing outside his home having a conversation with his father, brother and neighbours about the murder of another youngster that happened earlier on in the day, suddenly there were 2 gunshots and then another 3 and Jodie’s daughter starts screaming. A hitman walked pass our house as Jodie carrying his then 2-year-old daughter in his arms was shot in cold blood. Bleeding on the ground his elder brother holding him and trying to stop the bleeding, the blood pouring on to the ground. All the neighbours rush to see what is going on. The hitmen shot, hitting him in the head, the bullet comes out and grazes his daughter head and his father’s hand before hitting the wall. My brother lay on the floor as we scream and ask people to call for an ambulance, until we could wait no longer and carried him into the car and rushed to Wentworth hospital. The doctors informed us that it was serious, and Jodie would not make it as his pulse was very low due to the wound and blood loss. My youngest brother full of life, dreams and hopes didn’t get to see his precious baby girl turn 3 was brain dead but his heart kept beating for 5 hours until he finally gave up. Jodie fought as much as he could to come back to his family and child, but the seriousness of his injury was bad. 

To us as a family Jodie will forever be a HERO not just because he didn’t let any harm come to his daughter when he got shot, prior to the shooting happening he had sent his 2 nephews away as if he knew that something was going to happen. Within those 5 minutes on the 1st of May 2024 our whole world changed. We would have not only lost Jodie but my dad, elder brother, Jeana, my son and nephew. Struggling to come to terms with what has happened all we can do is remember the kind of person Jodie was. Jodie was loved by many, a respectable child. The memories that we shared all the laughs, and the craziness is all we have left. A case of mistaken identity and my brother is no more. 

 The worst part of it all, the police that showed up never asked questions, took statements or even cordoned of the area were the shooting took place. My dad found 2 of shells and gave it to the police. The investigating officer came 2 weeks later and took a statement from my elder brother who was outside with Jodie when the shooting took place, upon my dad asking to give his statement as well (he was also outside when the shooting occurred) his response was that he is tired and will come back tomorrow. Till date he has not taken a statement. I have called the detective and queried about the case to which his response was WE HAVE NO LEADS, IF YOUR FAMILY GETS ANY LEADS LET US KNOW OTHERWISE THE CASE WILL BE CLOSED. It has been 2 months and there is nothing that has happened. This incident occurred due to drugs in the area. Jodie was mistaken for a drug runner that is known in Merebank. Immediately after the shooting the news was on social media with the names of the dealer and drug runner that the hit was for, yet the police still did nothing. They now walk freely living there lives while a 3 year old is asking were is her father, why is he not coming home.

This is the South Africa we live in, were innocent mothers, fathers’ sons and daughters are being killed and the police system doesn’t work.

We have lost an innocent soul, a family man, a hardworking responsible father. Who can give us back what we had.

We are calling for JUSTICE TO BE SERVED. JUSTICE FOR JODIE. JUSTICE FOR THE INNOCENT THAT ARE MURDERED. 

 We are now asking that Police Minister Mr ES Mchunu, KZN Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi make a change and help us get answers and closure.