Drag race beating: not us, say trio
THREE Verulam men fear for their safety, and future employment opportunities, after a social media post accused them of savagely beating a Chatsworth man at a garage on Umgeni Road on Thursday night.
The men, all of Parkgate, denied being near the Engen Garage where 33-year-old father of one, Kuban Pather, was pummelled and senselessly kicked to the ground by a group of hooligans for driving on the path of an illegal drag race near Makro.
Footage of the incident sparked outrage on Facebook, with users calling for the culprits to be caught and dealt with.
On Monday, a photograph of Mikyle Nundlall, 21, his cousin Renaithan Padayachee, and their friend, Canton Chetty, both 20, appeared on Facebook.
They were fingered as three of the men involved in the beating.
But the trio have denied being near the area and believe someone is out to get them.
Each of them said they had been “falsely accused” and were afraid for their safety as a number of online users are baying for their blood.
Their parents attempted to open a defamation case on Monday but were told this was impossible as the person who posted the information online was unknown.
“I saw the video on Monday and didn’t see myself in it,” said Nundlall, a BSc information technology student.
“I was at indoor soccer practice at the Oaklands sports centre in Verulam from 8.30 to 10.30pm. I only got home about 15 minutes later.
“When I learnt about our picture being posted on Facebook, I was in total shock. The comments that followed, by people threatening us, were equally scary. They said they knew where we stayed.”
He assumed the person who posted the information did not like them.
“Or he has a grudge against us. The picture was taken about eight months ago at my granny’s home and I posted it on my page back then. There is a fourth person in the picture but he was cut out.”
Nundlall, who condemned Pather’s beating, said the false accusation had tarnished his name and his family’s image.
His mother, Shobana, said: “I know where my son was on Thursday night... I spoke to most of his friends who play soccer and they confirmed he was there.
“We, as parents, are scared. We don’t even want him to leave the house. I am heartbroken to have read something like this. Our aim is to now find out who has done this and why.
“These are young kids, who are building their lives, and this person has tainted their lives. It will affect them in their studies and when they seek employment. Postings on social media are life long.”
Padayachee, a second year applications development student, said he spent Thursday night at home with his parents and twin sisters. His dad, Vallen, attested to this.
Said the 20-year-old: “I have been accused of something I did not do. I saw the nasty comments people posted about us but they don’t even know us or our characters. They are threatening our lives. It’s not a playing thing. People are angry.”
Padayachee said the person who posted it was most likely someone they knew.
He added that the last time he saw his cousin and friend was on January 18 when Nundlall turned 21.
His dad said: “My son was not on the video and now I am worried about him and what could happen to him.”
Chetty, a chef, said he went with friends to King Shaka International Airport for dinner that evening.
“There was no one in the video that even looked like me... We did not do anything. We are being wrongfully accused.”
His mother, Beena, said they were “shocked and scared”.
“My son is quiet and a caring boy. How can someone do this?”