The N2 near Ifafa, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, became the scene of a tragic mistaken identity during a cash-in-transit heist, claiming the life of a young trucking boss.
Caylin Lee Naidoo, the 23-year-old owner of Leez Trucking, was fatally shot when robbers mistook his Isuzu double cab, equipped with a strobe light, for a security vehicle.
Caylin was a rising star in the trucking industry, having built his company from the ground up.
He was on his way back from Durban after picking up his uncle from Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital when tragedy struck.
According to Arrive Alive, the robbers had just blown up an armoured G4S van and were looting it when they saw Caylin’s vehicle and opened fire, believing it to be a security response.
Ruben Naidoo, Caylin’s uncle, described the horrific scene. “Caylin had fetched me from the hospital. As we neared the heist, I heard him shout at me to ‘stay down.’ A bullet struck him in the head, and he just slumped into his seat.”
Despite the chaos, Ruben managed to steer the van to safety, hiding in the bushes to escape the robbers who approached their vehicle.
The robbers searched the van before leaving, allowing Ruben to call for help.
Caylin’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the trucking community and his family.
Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Caylin had two trucks under his company’s banner and was passionate about his business.
His cousin, Michelle Beachen, noted that the strobe light on his Isuzu, used for truck breakdowns, might have led to the fatal mistake.
Caylin was not only a dedicated trucking boss but also a car enthusiast.
His prized BMW E30 325i was a testament to his love for vehicles.
His funeral at the Andra Hall in Marburg saw a heartfelt tribute from his staff, friends, and the Port Shepstone car community, who honoured him with a motorcade.
Thokozane ‘Makoya’ Mgilane, one of his drivers, described Caylin as a “cool guy.”
Friends like Sashan Pillay remembered his kindness and the strong bond they shared over their mutual love for cars.
The rise in cash-in-transit robberies across South Africa is a stark reminder of the dangerous climate that can affect anyone, even hardworking individuals like Caylin.
His family and the trucking community now seek justice and hope for measures that will prevent such senseless losses in the future.