So sad! Father shot in the face while protecting his children from hijackers' bullet

A 37-year-old South African father
Jameel Kader showed his ultimate
love for his children by taking the full force of a hijacker’s bullet to protect them.


Kader Kader on Monday, June 20,
underwent eight hours of
reconstructive surgery to his lower
jaw. The next few days were critical
as Kader was on life support, said his cousin, Musher Khan. Kader, a diesel mechanic and his
wife, Mehfooza and their children
Bibi Hafsa, Yusra, Sabah and
Juwairiya, aged 3 to 11, were held
up on Booth Avenue, Overport, on
Sunday afternoon, June 19.

They had arrived home at about 4.30pm after spending Father’s Day at the Pavilion shopping centre. Because they were doing up their
driveway, Jameel parked on the
pavement outside their house. They
exited the car, a Mercedes C Class,
and were removing the groceries
when two men approached, drew their firearms and demanded the
keys to the car.

"Jameel was concerned for his
family’s safety as these men were
brandishing guns near them. They
began to get aggressive and there
was a scuffle. My cousin ended up
throwing the car keys over the wall, on to his property," said Khan, who
added that one of the men then
walked towards the family in a
threatening manner. "Fearing the worst, Jameel followed
him and ended up pushing him.
They both fell.

The accomplice then came from
behind and placed Jameel in a
headlock. He put a gun to his head. During the tussle, I think the gun
moved from his head to his jaw.
That’s when he was shot." He said Kader’s family, who were
screaming and crying for help,
witnessed the shooting. "Mehfooza saw (the assailants) run
down the road and jump into a car."

Khan said witnesses later told them
the hijackers got into a blue Hyundai Getz with NUZ number plates. He said the bullet had entered Kader’s cheek and exited his jaw. "Jameel was still conscious after the shooting and remained concerned about his family.

Being Father’s Day, he had shown his ultimate love for his wife and children by protecting them against hardened criminals and taking a bullet."

He said doctors had told the family
that Kader, who was fasting during
the holy month of Ramadaan, was
lucky to be alive. "His wife and kids are still traumatised. We are all praying that he makes a speedy recovery."

Khan’s friend Rivaaj Ramdas -both
are members of the Tactical Shooting Team - said he had combed the area for the suspects’ car but the hijackers were long gone.

Ramdas said he did not believe the hijackers were professionals. "Professional hijackers usually come
in late model fast cars like Polos,
Audis and Mercs. These guys came in a blue Hyundai Getz." He said he hoped to secure CCTV footage of the incident so the suspects could be traced.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said a case of attempted murder and carjacking had been opened at Sydenham SAPS.

Source: IOL