Court grants mercy visits
Murderer Govindsamy will see his critically ill son, 13
CONVICTED murderer Jaiseelan Govindsamy has been granted the chance to see his critically ill teenage son.
This week, Govindsamy’s mother, 63-year-old Pushpam Govindsamy, asked the High Court in Pietermaritzburg to allow her imprisoned son the chance to visit his ill boy, Dante.
Govindsamy was convicted in 2009 of the murder of his wife, Anthea, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Two years before, the father of two stabbed his wife 19 times in the presence of their children after a dispute.
On Friday, the court granted Pushpam’s application despite initial resistance from the Department of Correctional Services.
Thirteen-year-old Dante suffers from a debilitating disease known as Leigh’s syndrome.
The incurable disorder usually affects toddlers and generally leads to death within a short period of time.
Last week, Dante was hospitalised and put on a ventilator because he can no longer breathe on his own.
“My son was speaking to Dante over the phone. He told him once that he must not die. He must wait for him. I think that’s what this child is thinking about.”
Govindsamy’s sister Tiny said the family’s wish was not to free Govindsamy, but to grant the wish of her sick nephew.
“We can’t undo what my brother did. He must pay for what he did. All we want is for Dante to have a chance to see his father.”
Correctional services was directed to allow Govind- samy two one-hour visits to his son during December, the first of which must happen this week.
In court papers, Dante’s clinical psychologist, David Blackbeard, said regular and increased contact with his father would be in Dante’s best interests.
“Despite his intellectual challenges, Dante has presented with sufficient emotional functioning to experience distress and a wish for more contact with his father,” said Blackbeard.
Pushpam said all she wanted now was for Govindsamy to be able “to hold Dante’s hand and pray with him and tell him that things will be okay”.