unrest phoenix

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 15, 2021 Community members hold weapons as they stand at a road block in Phoenix Township, North Durban, to prevent looters from reaching the community. – June 8, 2022 marks the one year anniversary of the outbreak of deadly rioting triggered by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma for ignoring a corruption inquiry. Violence spread through Zuma’s home province KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the two most populous provinces which together account for half of South Africa’s economic output, claiming more than 300 lives. The violence escalated into the worst unrest since the end of apartheid, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to label it an attempted “insurrection”. (Photo by GUILLEM SARTORIO / AFP)

Phoenix brothers found not guilty of murder

The Durban High Court found insufficient evidence to support the murder charge but convicted Ned and Dylan Govender of assault GBH.

unrest phoenix

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 15, 2021 Community members hold weapons as they stand at a road block in Phoenix Township, North Durban, to prevent looters from reaching the community. – June 8, 2022 marks the one year anniversary of the outbreak of deadly rioting triggered by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma for ignoring a corruption inquiry. Violence spread through Zuma’s home province KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the two most populous provinces which together account for half of South Africa’s economic output, claiming more than 300 lives. The violence escalated into the worst unrest since the end of apartheid, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to label it an attempted “insurrection”. (Photo by GUILLEM SARTORIO / AFP)

Ned and Dylan Govender, dubbed the Phoenix brothers, were found not guilty of the murder of 19-year-old Mbuso Majola by the Durban High Court on Friday, 19 May.

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COURT RULES THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MURDER CHARGE IN PHOENIX CASE

According to EWN, the court found that the State failed to prove the brothers had killed Majola, who was murdered during the July unrest in Phoenix.

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CCTV footage showed the teenager being attacked by the Govenders and others in Phoenix as he was walking home in July 2021. Majola was one of at least 30 people believed to have been killed in Phoenix.

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“In handing down the judgment, the court found that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge of murder against them and convicted them of assault GBH,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.

The brothers will be sentenced on 5 July.

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