Witness recounts chilling details of murder trial linked to July 2021 unrest in Phoenix

Durban High Court heard on Wednesday morning that one of the victims of the 2021 July unrest in Phoenix was hit on his head by a rock and a hammer.

This is after one of the four Indian men was heard saying that they needed to put heat on the 'darkie ous'.

Four men, Ravine Naidoo, 67, from Phoenix, Trevor Gopal, 52, from La Mercy,  Tyreece Govender, 21, from Phoenix, and Timothy Govender, 46, from Phoenix, are on trial for murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence.

Additionally, Gopal is also charged with incitement to commit public violence. 

The State is alleging that the four men killed Njabulo Allen Dlamini by hitting him with golf sticks, an iron rod, a sjambok, and setting him alight.

It also alleges that the accused attempted to kill Nkosikhona Madlala and Sandile Colin Sambo by hitting them with golf sticks, baseball bats, putting wooden pallets on their bodies, and pouring fuel on them with the intent to burn them to death.

The State alleges that Gopal had addressed his co-accused and some community members to attack black Africans outside his tavern.

A State witness, Anard Chetty, who said he used to reside at Gopal’s tavern after he lost his job during Covid-19, told the court that on July 12, 2021, when the victims were attacked, Tyreece hit Dlamini with a rock on his head.

He stated that Dlamini arrived at the tavern in a taxi bearing the Africa Touch logo, accompanied by others.

Chetty testified that Gopal used to sell alcohol illegally, as it was banned during that time because of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

He said a female and two males had alighted from the taxi to go to the tavern, and within minutes, they came back running.

At that time, a lot of vehicles came, with one being driven by Gopal’s brother, blocking the taxi. He said the taxi occupants, including Dlamini, who were left inside, were told to come out and lie down on the floor. 

He said there was resistance from the taxi occupants and stated that the people who had come in vehicles had sticks and they assaulted the victims. He said they ran in different directions. 

“A female and one male ran to the container behind the tavern and came out the next day around 6.00 in the morning,” Chetty said. 

He said that when Dlamini jumped out of the taxi, he was tripped by Gopal’s brother, and he fell.

“More people came to assault him,” he added.

Additionally, Chetty, who would constantly get emotional and cry, said that as Dlamini was being assaulted, Tyreece picked up a rock and hit him with it. 

“After the third accused (Tyreece) picked up the big rock, Accused Four (Timothy) took the hammer and beat him with it. Those are the two fatal blows that ended that guy. He couldn’t move,” he said, crying. 

Additionally, Chetty told the court that Dlamini was his friend. He said Tyreece is the son of Timothy. 

During his testimony, Judge Mluleki Chili kept on reminding him to slow down as they took notes. At some stages, when Chetty got emotional, he would tell him to drink water and take a minute. All the accused are out on bail. 

The trial continues.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za