Criminals dominated headlines in 2021
DATE: January 13-17 HEADLINE: ‘Teddy Mafia' knew his alleged killers from prison
YAGANATHAN Pillay, also known as “Teddy Mafia”, was killed at his home in Taurus Street, Shallcross, on January 4.
He was allegedly shot by two men who were known to him. It was further alleged they were hitmen who Pillay met in prison.
Following Pillay’s death, the men were later killed by a mob. While Pillay was referred to as a known drug dealer, he was never convicted on any drug-related charges.
UPDATE: The matter is still under investigation.
Susan Pillay, Yaganathan’s wife, said she lost two sons, her nephew as well as her husband, but did not receive justice for any of them.
“The police are not taking our case seriously and are lacking in their duties. I used to call the investigating officer regularly for updates, but he kept giving me excuses. I am tired of asking and decided to stop calling as I have lost all faith in our justice system.”
DATE: March 31-April 4 HEADLINE: ‘My house was burgled’ ... and nobody will help.
DURING the time of the Group Areas Act, Goolam Mahomed fought for the right to stay on his father's property in Cato Manor even though it was designated an area for whites.
Mahomed’s father bought the land after he arrived in South Africa from India in 1915. The property was passed to Mahomed when his father died.
When the apartheid government told him to move, Mahomed stood in front of his home with his wife and three young children. He told the then Community Development Board in 1980 that he would rather die than leave.
The property was expropriated by the city without any compensation and even though the family continued to stay on the land, their status changed from owners to tenants.
After democracy in 1994, Mahomed put in a land claim. The property ended up being invaded by a group of people living in the area.
UPDATE: Mahomed died 25 years ago without getting back the title deeds and to date, the matter remains unresolved.
Msawakhe Mayisela, the spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality, said: “Land claims are handled in terms of Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994 and that responsibility rests with the Land Claims Commission, not the municipality.”
Shiraz Begum Mahomed, Goolam’s eldest daughter, said she had been liaising with an official from the city’s land invasion unit about the recent matter.
“He said the onus was on the unit to evict invaders. He did not give me a time frame. I last heard from him earlier this year. About a month ago, my sister called him. He said he was awaiting feedback from the Human Settlements Department.”
DATE: May 19-23 HEADLINE: Son in dock for mom’s death
UVEER Jaganath, who is accused of killing his mother by stabbing her 26 times, was denied bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
On May 6, Jaganath and his mother, Jessica Jaganath, allegedly had an argument at their Clare Estate home that resulted in her death.
The 43-year-old sustained multiple stab wounds.
The police were informed that a 20-year-old male had fatally stabbed his mother after an argument.
Uveer also had two stab wounds to his leg and below his chest, and was taken to hospital for medical attention. Uveer pleaded not guilty in court. According to his affidavit, he said he could not remember the incident and wanted bail as his family was willing to help him medically. However, Judge Vanitha Armu said it was not in the interest of justice to grant Jaganath bail. She described his mother’s killing as senseless as it was in the sanctity of her home.
UPDATE: According to the police, Uveer applied for bail in the Durban High Court. He was released on bail in July. The police said Uveer would undergo an assessment at Fort Napier
in Pietermaritzburg in January.
DATE: June 2-6 HEADLINE: Ipid probes alleged drug runner’s death
THE Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) was investigating the death of Logan “Julz” Arunachellam, an alleged Chatsworth drug dealer, who died just hours after he was arrested and allegedly beaten by police.
On May 21, Arunachellam was at his home when officers from the Hawks, the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, Crime Intelligence and Chatsworth SAPS raided his property.
Capsules containing drugs and cocaine were found at the home and Arunachellam was arrested. Arunachellam was taken to the RK Khan Hospital with chest pains that evening. On Sunday evening (May 23), the doctor informed his wife that her husband had died due to cardiac arrest.
UPDATE: Six months later, there have been no updates or arrests following this case. The deceased’s wife, Candice Arunachellam, said authorities were not interested in the matter. She said the untimely death of her husband had caused her heartache and what was worse was that the justice system had failed her and her family.
DATE: June 15-19 HEADLINE: ‘Ruthless shooting’
ON JUNE 12, Brenden Thandroyen stopped just after midday outside their family business property on the corner of Pickering and Mazeppa streets in the Point area. His brother, Craig, was in the front passenger seat of the VW Golf 7. Brenden’s daughter, Bianca Africa, 17, and Craig’s son, Carel, 13, were in the back.
The brothers were chatting to a worker when a car pulled up alongside them and the occupant or occupants opened fire on them. Both brothers were killed instantly. The two children were injured.
Bianca Africa, a matric pupil at Northlands Girls’ High School, was rushed to hospital but died later that afternoon. Carel, who was shot in the leg, survived.
Police had not yet established a motive for the killing. However, at least three law-enforcement officers, all independent of each other, said police were investigating the possibility it was drug-related.
UPDATE: Captain Nqobile Gwala, a provincial police spokesperson, said the matter was still under investigation. No arrests had been made.
DATE: June 30-July 4 HEADLINE: FBI roped in after five arrested
TWO men, who were accused of a knife attack at a mosque and orchestrating bomb scares in Durban, were among a group nabbed by police in Mayville.
Law-enforcement officials intended to meet the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to discuss the case involving the five suspects.
They were arrested at business premises where 6 050 rounds of ammunition, an AK-47, jewellery and counterfeit goods were seized. A Norinco AK-47 rifle, seven cellphones, two magazines, a rifle as well as diamonds and jewellery were also found.
Five suspects were found on the premises.
They were arrested during the multidisciplinary intelligence-driven operation, and charged with the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and being in possession of suspected stolen property.
The accused, aged between 23 and 47, were represented by advocate Niven Rai.
UPDATE: According to Rai, the charges were dropped.