KwaZulu-Natal – A father used his tie to lash his young son to him, and walked into the surf, drowning them both off a North Coast beach.

Dhaniram (Niresh) Ramdass, 39, had feared he would not see his son again, a grieving family member said on Monday. 

Ramdass, who had been living apart from his wife for less than a week, was meant to have taken his son to the Tongaat Charity Fair.

Moments before the double drowning at the La Mercy Beach on Saturday, eight-year-old Lavesh had called his mother Usha, 30, on her cellphone and told her he was at the beach with his father. 

But before his wife, a nurse, could question Lavesh further, the call was cut.

Less than two hours later both bodies washed up on shore, not far from where witnesses had earlier seen the father and son sipping on a cool drink.

Lavesh’s classmates at Victoria Primary, in oThongathi, lit candles in his memory. Looking on is principal Laljeeth Maharaj, his form teacher Prem Sukdeo and teacher Ansuya Naidoo. Photo: Puri Devjee

DAILY NEWS

Police are investigating a case of murder and an inquest docket has also been opened.

The boy had been living with his uncle, Vinesh Ganesh, and maternal grandmother in Isnembe, near oThongathi (Tongaat), since he was a baby because of his mother’s irregular working hours.

A devastated Ganesh, speaking on behalf of Usha, said Ramdass had called him on Friday night and told him he wanted to take the child to the charity fair on Saturday morning.

He said he had already taken the child to the fair on the Friday night, but did not want to deprive him of time with his father.

“My sister and her husband were having domestic problems. She wanted him to quit drinking. When Niresh was under the influence of alcohol, he was abusive towards my sister,” Ganesh said. 

Usha had moved out on Wednesday and was staying with her brother and son in Isnembe.

Ganesh said he had seen Ramdass on Wednesday evening when he visited his son. He said he had spoken to him at length about his marriage.

“I told him that Usha wanted to save her marriage, but only if he gave up drinking completely. He promised to sort his life out. He said he wanted to be with his family.”

For more details go to www.iol.co.za