British Airways hostess, Zoe Zorab, was brutally murdered in her home on the night of Thursday August 12.

Her grieving parents, Hazel and Nigel Zorab, who own the Baron and Jester in Parkmore, are totally traumatised by the horrific event. What has shocked them even more, however, is the deafening silence. The vicious murder of this outstanding young woman, as she tried to rescue her dogs and fight off three armed intruders, made scarcely a ripple on any newsfront. What would be headline news in any civilised country in the world, was ignored in crime-torn South Africa as "just another murder".

The Zorabs lived in Woodmead for many years, but recently moved to North Riding for peace and quiet, to do a bit of farming and breed their beloved miniature dachshunds. They had started renovations, but the last of the burglar bars had not yet been installed.

Zoe was at home on a rest day after completing another flight for Comair and was spending her time studying . Her parents had to go to a meeting and her older brother, Alex popped out for an hour or so. Her father left a firearm for her protection, a .38.

Just before 9.30 Hazel phoned home to make sure Zoe was all right. "We're just having a quick cuppa and we're on our way." Zoe's boyfriend phoned her at 9.30 pm.

As Hazel and Nigel arrived home at 10:15 pm, they tried to phone Zoe when the dogs barked it was only them. There was no reply. Things did not feel right, but Hazel comforted herself with the thought that Zoe was probably in the bath. They parked the car and locked up. The dogs were unnaturally quiet. They could not get into the house. The inner kitchen security gate was locked. They ran around the house, shouting to Zoe and peering through the windows, then found a broken sliding door. Nigel ran into the house and found his beloved daughter lying dead in the main bedroom. Bandits had shot her in the face with a shotgun.

In reconstructing the crime, police believe she heard her three attackers breaking into the house. The bandits fired at the dogs and missed, but bullets sprayed into the sideboard. Feisty Zoe tried to rescue all the dogs and get them into the safe, secured bedroom area with her. As the bandits bore down on her, she fired several shots at them, but they got to her before she managed to lock herself in.

Zoe was murdered for a video machine. The bandits also took the gun.

More horror was to come. The operator at 10111 put the Zorabs on hold. When they finally got through, it appeared the operator was incapable of understanding the concept of a smallholding.

No one seemed to know which police station their area fell under. Douglasdale is the closest, but the Zorabs have since learned they fall under Muldersdrift. The operator at Sandton's Crisis Control Centre allegedly put the phone down on Zoe's traumatised, swearing brother, Alex, as he desperately urged the operator to get the police to "hurry up".

When the police did arrive about half an hour later "they were fantastic" say the Zorabs. Tracker dogs were brought in, but failed to trace the murderers, who are believed to have disappeared in the direction of the Kya Sands squatter camp.

Still more horror was in store. The night after the murder, Alex and a friend were sitting in the lounge when they heard intruders breaking in through the second sliding door. They ducked down and quietly phoned the police. This time, police officers arrived in force, helicopter and all, but once again the intruders got away. The Zorabs believe it could be the same gang returning for the remote control for the video machine.

It is hard for Hazel, Nigel, Alex and his other sister, Carey, to believe the glowing, vibrant, unforgettable, titian-haired Zoe is no longer with them. She attended Bramley Primary School for a while before the family returned to the UK for a few years. On arriving back in South Africa, Zoe attended Rivonia Primary School and then Wendywood High, before doing a special travel course at Damelin. She doted on animals, was an avid bookworm and adored music. Donations in lieu of flowers went to the Sandton SPCA and Animals in Distress.

The Zorabs would like to express their sincere thanks to Paul Webb, the Crisis Control Centre chaplain who stayed with them through those first dreadful hours, as well as to friends and family around the world for flying in to be with them, and as for phone calls and support.

Anyone who can assist in tracing the three bandits is asked to phone police officer Tony Naidoo at 839-3322 or 082-700-6603.