Murder accused granted R5 000 bail

A 23-YEAR-OLD man charged with murder and attempted murder has been granted bail in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.

Rayen Siveshan Chetty, has been alleged to have driven multiple times over his girlfriend’s mother, Salma Sheik Haniff, and her husband, Afzal, after a dispute at their home in Chatsworth on August 11.

Salma, 43, died, while Afzal, 44, was expected to undergo a shoulder operation today.

According to the couple’s son, Junaid, Afzal’s wrist and shoulder were broken.

“They will be putting a plating for him by Wednesday (today) and he also has fractured ribs,” he said.

Their daughter, Chetty’s girlfriend, had been in the car with him.

In Chetty’s affidavit, read out by his lawyer, Leon Naidoo, on August 16, he said: “My girlfriend and I had a disagreement and she invited me to visit after work on Friday.

“I arrived at seven that evening and her uncle, who was under the influence of drugs, started to swear at me.”

The statement said that Chetty then left to avoid an argument, but had been attacked by a member of his girlfriend’s family as he approached his car.

“I was dropped to the ground, kicked, punched and even dragged,” Chetty said.

He said his girlfriend and her mother helped him into his car, and that he had been told by Salma to take her daughter with him.

Chetty said his car had been blocked from all sides and in a state of shock, he tried to flee when he heard a bang.

Questioned during Chetty’s bail application, the investigating officer said he considered the seriousness of the case and that Chetty had cooperated in the investigation.

“He handed himself in and has no previous convictions. He is not a flight risk and his address is verified,” he said.

Chetty has been granted R5 000 bail with conditions that he does not enter Chatsworth unless attending court, does not communicate with the Sheik Haniffs, and that he relocate from his residence in Mobeni Heights to live with his mother in Rossburgh.

The Sheik Haniffs, none of whom were in court, were disappointed that Chetty had been granted bail.

Junaid said they were gutted by the outcome.

“It is unfair. These are charges of murder, attempted murder and negligent driving and he was let go with R5 000,” he said.

“We are upset but it’s not in our hands and we will continue to wait for justice to be served.”

The case has been adjourned to October for further investigation.