Phoenix Massacre KZN

Phoenix residents during Bheki Cele’s visit on Saturday, 17 July 2021.

Photo: Twitter/@LirandzuThemba

Phoenix murder trio in court to reinstate bail application

Brothers Ned and Dylan Govender are among the suspects facing a charge of murder after Mondli Majola, 19, was shot during the recent unrest.

Phoenix Massacre KZN

Phoenix residents during Bheki Cele’s visit on Saturday, 17 July 2021.

Photo: Twitter/@LirandzuThemba

The trio who are facing murder charges related to the violence that broke out in Phoenix near Durban during the civil unrest in mid-July appeared in a packed Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The three suspects are Jeetendra Jaikissoon and brothers brothers Ned and Dylan Govender who made their second appearance in court after they had earlier abounded their bail application in August.

The men are each facing one count of murder for the Phoenix killing, and Dylan is facing an additional charge of attempted murder.

The state has alleged that the three men allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Mondli Majola in Phoenix during the civil unrest that broke out in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng at the time. The suspects had allegedly shot Majola from behind.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara said that the Phoenix murder suspects had decided on Wednesday to continue with their abandoned bail application.

“On their previous appearance, they had abandoned their application for bail.  However today, via their legal representative, they advised the court that they want to continue their bail application,” Kara said.

The trio’s attorney explained in court that the reason the men had abandoned their bail application was because a new attorney had been introduced to represent them in the matter. The attorney asked the court for more time to consult with their clients because Covid-19 regulations implemented in the prison in which they were being held had not given them sufficient time to discuss the case.

The Phoenix murder case was postponed to 17 September 2021 for continuation of their application to be released on bail.

Not about to miss an opportunity to throw their weight behind the victim’s family during the Phoenix murder trial, various political parties were present in the court room on Wednesday. These included members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and the civil organisation Justice for Africans.