Families still await court outcome
DATE: January 13-16 HEADLINE: Probe into oxygen supply interruption at hospital
HUMSHA Naidoo, 57, and six other Covid-19 patients at Lenmed Shifa Hospital died on January 2 after their oxygen supply stopped.
Naidoo was a former teacher from Havenside, Chatsworth.
In a statement at the time, the Lenmed Group said it was investigating the interruption of oxygen supply. It added that 77 patients were admitted to the hospital.
Naidoo’s family reported her death to the police and an inquest was opened. The matter is still under investigation. UPDATE: In a recent statement to the POST, Michelle Naidoo, the group marketing manager of the Lenmed Group, said: “The investigation concluded that the circumstances were exceptional and extraordinary, with hospitals across the country confronting a higher-than-projected demand for admission as well as high-flow oxygen.”
She said Lenmed had stress-tested all its systems as part of the investigation and invested in additional infrastructure over and above its normal operating requirements.
“This helped the group navigate the third wave and has created additional capacity to treat more patients during further anticipated waves.”
DATE: February 3-7 HEADLINE: Mom’s 39-day search for son ends in mortuary
KOGIE Abbas searched Chatsworth and surrounding areas for 39 days looking for her son, Eugene Reddy, 31, who went missing in December 2020. His body was found at the end of January at the Park Rynie Mortuary.
Reddy was accused of stealing and was assaulted by a group of residents in Moorton. He was taken to the Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in uMlazi, where he died.
Captain Nqobile Galawa, a provincial police spokesperson, said two men were arrested and appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
UPDATE: Kogie Abbas said December was filled with bad memories and she hoped for justice as the case against the two accused was still before the court.
DATE: February 10-14 HEADLINE: Killed keeping a family legacy alive
DAN Shadew, 74, from Holmbosch, Nonoti, a rural area outside KwaDukuza, was stabbed twice in the chest and strangled. His attackers fled in his car and took his shotgun.
UPDATE: Two men, aged 22 and 25, were arrested shortly after his death. They were charged with murder and robbery and appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court. In September, the charges against them were withdrawn because of a lack of evidence.
DATE: February 10-14 HEADLINE: UKZN spends millions on Operation Clever
THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) confirmed that it spent R73 560 829 on Operation Clever that investigated, among others, the sale of places at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.
The investigation was launched in 2016 and included Avril Sahadew, the university’s forensic audit specialist, and Paul Finden, the director of legal services. The university claimed that
Sahadew received death threats and, as a result, was accommodated in a safe house. UKZN also paid for bodyguards.
Between August 2017 and May 2020, the cost of guarding her at the safe house cost UKZN just over R42 million. That’s almost two-thirds of the total cost of Operation Clever.
UPDATE: The matter is still under investigation. Sahadew was also charged with crimen injuria, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. Her case is currently being heard in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.
DATE: March 10-14 HEADLINE: Front-line worker killed in home invasion
MURIEL Armugam, a senior nurse at the RK Khan Hospital, was killed and her husband, Dennis, injured during a home invasion in Pinetown in March.
Muriel, 51, was stabbed in the neck. She died at the scene. Dennis, 49, an administrator at the Chatsworth SAPS, was stabbed on his right thigh and hands. He was tied up and assaulted until he was unconscious.
The suspect fled, taking a watch, a ring and some cash. Dennis was taken to the hospital for treatment and discharged the same day.
UPDATE: Pastor Collin Govender, the family spokesperson, said he was not aware of any arrests in the case.
DATE: March 17-20 HEADLINE: Racism within metro police
DURBAN metro police officers, all of Indian origin, claimed they were racially abused and undermined by a cabal of African metro police officers. They asked the city to investigate the matter but they were allegedly ignored.
The police officers claimed they had endured racist slurs and had been sidelined for promotions despite having decades of experience for the jobs.
At the time, Msawakhe Mayisela, the spokesperson for the city, said the issue was an internal matter and asked for the city to be given the space to allow internal processes to reach finality. UPDATE: According to the officers affected, the allegations are still being investigated.
DATE: March 24-28 HEADLINE: Mom left paralysed after crash
NISHELLE Reddy, 26, a transport co-ordinator from Malvern, was left paralysed from her chest down following an accident near Cornubia.
She was driving a Hilux bakkie and was with her two children, aged 5 and 4. It is alleged that Captain Kubendran Siva, 46, a member of the SAPS Dog Unit, overtook another vehicle and crashed his VW Golf into Reddy's bakkie.
She was trapped inside. Her children were not injured.
Siva appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on charges of reckless and negligent driving. He was granted R10 000 bail.
UPDATE: Mervin Pillay, her father-inlaw, said the family were awaiting the outcome of the court case.
DATE: April 21-25 HEADLINE: Son kills dad
DEENAN Ryan was stabbed to death allegedly by his son, Shamith Ryan.
It is alleged they were drinking at their home in Tarkastad in the Eastern Cape when they began to argue. Deenan sustained two stab wounds to the chest and eight to the back. Shamith handed himself over to the police. He
appeared in the Tarkastad Magistrate’s Court and was charged with murder. He was released on bail.
UPDATE: The matter is still under investigation.
DATE: April 21-25 HEADLINE: Mom’s heartbreak as daughter shot
NAVISHKA Roopnarain, 17, from Demat near Mariannhill, was found dead in a bush in Lamontville. She was shot in the head. Her two friends, Siphelele Dimba, 35, and Lungisani Lucky Xhoza, 41, were found dead in the car. Another 25-year-old friend, who was also shot, survived. Two suspects, aged 23 and 24, were arrested.
UPDATE: Lavi Roopnarain, her mother, said the case was still in court.
DATE: April 28-May 2 HEADLINE: Arrest warrant for comedian
THE Estcourt Magistrate’s Court issued an arrest warrant for Sagren Madhevan Moodley, also known by his stage name Karou Charou. This was after Moodley violated an interim protection order.
The order was obtained by an Estcourt businesswoman in March. She claimed that Moodley targeted her on Facebook and called her a murderer. The woman opened a case of defamation of character against Moodley.
At the time, Moodley declined to comment on the allegations. But he released a statement on Facebook saying that he was up for any challenge. He thereafter handed himself over to the police.
UPDATE: The case was adjourned to January 25.
DATE: May 5-9 HEADLINE: My sister fed her killer
NAADIRA Vanker, 31, a teacher at Progress Primary School in Lenasia, Gauteng, was abducted from her home in April during an alleged robbery. After a six-day search, her body was found in a shallow grave at the home of Lucky Mshubi in Phumlamqashi, south of Lenasia.
Mshubi, 36, worked as a security guard at the complex Vanker shared with her husband and four children. He was arrested and charged with murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
UPDATE: The matter is still under investigation.
DATE: May 26-30 HEADLINE: Fired for supporting Israel
SUDESH Mooloo, 52, an Afrikaans teacher at Laudium Secondary School in Gauteng, was allegedly fired for a WhatsApp status which said: “I am not anti-Palestine but I am anti-Hamas. I stand with Israel.”
During that time, violence in the Middle East had escalated because the Israelis had tried to evict Palestinians from an area called Sheikh Jarrah. When the Palestinians in Gaza protested, the situation turned ugly.
To date, the school has not commented on the allegations and Mooloo remains unemployed.
UPDATE: In a statement, the Department of Education in Gauteng said it did not condone discrimination based on gender, political or religious affiliation, or race. It said it took the allegations against the school seriously.
“In that light, we have, through
the district, engaged the school on the veracity of the allegations and the school’s response was that the educator had taken sick leave.
A medical certificate was also forwarded to us at the time. Moreover, the school confirmed that the educator is appointed by the school governing body but remained in the school’s employ as his contract has not been terminated.”
DATE: June 2-6 HEADLINE: Row over male teacher in skirt
SERBASH Thumbadoo, a teacher at a school in Sydenham, was discriminated against for wearing a skirt to school in May. He identifies himself as bi-gender – meaning he sees himself as both male and female.
Thumbadoo claimed he told the principal about his gender and the principal seemed fine with it but when he showed up in school in a skirt, he was mocked. He reported the matter to the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union and a protest was held at the school.
UPDATE: The principal has since apologised.
DATE: June 15-19 HEADLINE: Tragic end to honeymoon as couple are electrocuted
ZAHEER, 29, and Nabeela Sarang, 24, died after they were electrocuted at their home in Mayfair, Johannesburg. The incident was allegedly caused by a faulty electrical connection due to illegal connections.
The couple married in May and returned home from their honeymoon when the incident occurred. UPDATE: City Power in Johannesburg is still investigating the cause of the incident.
DATE: June 30-July 4 HEADLINE: SANDF trainee soldier dies
IN JANUARY, Vishay Singh was run over by two vehicles outside his home in Marburg, Port Shepstone. After spending six months on life support, he died in June.
Singh, a trainee SANDF officer, suffered a brain injury, fractured legs and ribs as well as a punctured lung. Two men were arrested and charged with murder. They appeared in Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court and were released on bail.
UPDATE: The matter is still before the court.
DATE: July 21-25 HEADLINE: Son recounts watching dad die pinned by a taxi
RADESH Shanganlall, 55, an accountant, died after he was pinned to a tree by a taxi during the unrest in July. Shanganlall sustained multiple injuries. He died at the scene.
UPDATE: The matter is still under investigation. No arrests have been made.
DATE: July 21-25 HEADLINE: Patroller dies after being shot twice
GANESH Naidoo, 61, a pensioner from Clayfield, Phoenix, was killed while patrolling the area during the unrest in July. He sustained two gunshot wounds to the stomach and died on his way to the hospital.
UPDATE: Alvin Gengiah, his nephew, said he did not get feedback from the police on whether arrests had been made.
DATE: July 28-August 1 HEADLINE: There was never racial tension in Phoenix but there is now
TEN suspects linked to the violence during the unrest in Phoenix appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court. The charges against the accused ranged from murder, attempted murder, possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The accused were brothers Dylan Govender, 29, Ned Govender, 30, Justin Hira, 32, Seelan Chetty, 24, Owen Chinnasamy, 23, Vernon Philip Govender, 21, Brenton Callen Shunmogam, 25, Mirandin Kaylyn Reddy, 26, and Alfonzo Naidoo, 23.
Jeetendra Jaikissoon, 39, died in Westville Prison in October allegedly from diabetes and hypertension. UPDATE: All the accused are on bail except for Dylan and Ned Govender. They were denied bail and are due back in court in January.
DATE: August 4-8 HEADLINE: Missing grandfather found in mortuary
BHAWANT Cat Sudhu, 63, a supervisor at Durban Solid Waste, was found dead in KwaMashu in July. He was shot in the head.
Sudhu left his home to give his domestic worker a lift to her father’s home. When Sudhu failed to return home, his family searched for him and then opened a missing person’s report. His body was found the next day. UPDATE: No arrests have been made and police are still investigating.
DATE: August 11-15 HEADLINE: Nine more suspects arrested for Phoenix killings
NINE additional suspects were arrested for the violence in Phoenix during the unrest in July. They were Yubandra Govender, Rinesh Mohan, Mehmood Khan, McKallen Govender, Sholan Reddy, Kirosh Maharaj, Sumeeth Maharaj, Khalil Mohammed and Christopher Pillay. They were charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Kirosh Maharaj, Sumeeth Maharaj, Sholan Reddy and Khalil Mohammed were released on bail.
UPDATE: All of the accused will appear in court again in January.
DATE: September 1-5 HEADLINE: Rock thrown at car, killing driver
PHILDON Chetty, 39, a commercial manager for Aspen Pharmaceuticals, was killed when his vehicle was struck with a rock. The rock struck him on the chin, causing his neck to break. He died at the scene.
UPDATE: Veldan Chetty, his brother, said no arrests had been made.
DATE: October 6-10 HEADLINE: Dad dies in Westville Prison
MUBEEN Rymon, 25, from Glenhills in KwaDukuza, was arrested for shoplifting on September 19. He appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody at Westville Prison.
Rymon became ill and died on September 23. His family were notified about his death on September 29. They were allegedly told that because September 24 was a public holiday, there was no staff available to inform the family.
His brother, Mueen Rymon, told the POST that they were upset because as per their Islamic culture a body must be buried within the day. The Department of Correctional Services launched an investigation into the matter. UPDATE: Mueen Rymon said he was still awaiting feedback from the department.
DATE: October 13-17 HEADLINE: Joggers laid to rest
SUNIL Parekh and Anil Singh were killed after being knocked down while jogging in Tongaat.
The alleged driver of the vehicle, Ali Mohamed, 29, fled the scene before he crashed the car into a minibus taxi. Mohamed was arrested and charged with culpable homicide and contravention of the Immigration Act. The matter is being heard in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court.
Parekh and Singh were both 59 and members of the Panthers Athletics Club. Parekh ran a car licensing business and Singh was an account administrator for a car hire business.
UPDATE: Mohamed’s case is being heard in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court.
DATE: October 27-31 HEADLINE: Get me out of here
JEETENDRA Jaikissoon, 39, an insurance broker, from Palmview, Phoenix, who was accused of killing a man during the July unrest, died at the King Edward VII Hospital. He was an awaiting-trial prisoner at Westville Prison.
Jaikissoon suffered from diabetes and hypertension. It is alleged that at the prison hospital he was given flu medication to treat his condition.
His condition worsened and he was transferred to the government hospital. He died on arrival.
The Department of Correctional
Services launched an investigation into the matter.
UPDATE: The department is still investigating the matter.
DATE: November 3-7 HEADLINE: Fire kills mom, children
ELISHA Naidoo, 37, a stay-at-home mom, her children Jaidene, 13, Jordan, 8, Aldrin, 4, and nephew Liam, 8, were killed in a fire at their home in Whetstone, Phoenix.
It is alleged that her husband, Sagie Chetty, 51, a grass cutter, doused the one-bedroomed flat with petrol and set it alight during an argument. He was charged with murder and arson and appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court. He abandoned his bail application. The matter was adjourned to January 26.
UPDATE: Priya Naidoo, Liam’s mother, said she missed her son, her sister, nieces and nephews.
DATE: November 17-21 HEADLINE: July unrest relived
THE KwaZulu-Natal leg of the South African Human Rights Commission’s national investigative hearing into the July unrest began on November 17 and concluded on December 6.
During the unrest, more than 350 people died nationally. In Phoenix, 36 people were arrested for the deaths of 36 people. Those cases are pending in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court.
The commission looked at the causes of the unrest as well as the impact it had on human rights. Among those who testified were families of people who died, Police Minister Bheki Cele, Khehla Sitole, the national commissioner for police, and Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the provincial police commissioner in KZN.
UPDATE: The Gauteng leg of the hearings will be heard in February. The commission will then provide a report on its findings.
DATE: December 1-5 HEADLINE: Prayers for pastor's resurrection
PASTOR Siva Moodley’s body has been at Martin’s Funeral Home in Fourways, Gauteng, for the past three months because his family are praying for his resurrection.
Moodley, 53, the founder of The Miracle Centre in the north of Johannesburg, died on August 15 after falling ill.
Martin du Toit, the manager at the funeral home, told the City Press that shortly after his death Moodley’s family and members of the church used to visit the funeral home to pray for his resurrection. But the visits have since stopped.
He reportedly said the family were ignoring his calls to fetch Moodley’s body and that he would approach the Johannesburg City Council to bury him as a pauper.
UPDATE: The family have not responded to emails and messages on social media for a comment. Du Toit has also declined to comment. Some congregants of the church told the POST that they had still not been informed of his death and that his social media accounts continue to operate as though he were alive.
DATE: December 14-19 HEADLINE: Dad killed during robbery hailed a hero
MEGAN Jeremy Shunmugam was killed while protecting his parents during a robbery at their home in Gledhow, KwaDukuza. Shunmugam, 41, an operator at the Gledhow Sugar Mill Company, sustained stabbed wounds to his neck, chest and arms. The robbers fled the scene with two cellphones. UPDATE: Vincent Chetty, his uncle, said the family wanted those responsible caught.