Accused’s mom claims threats
THE MOTHER of two men accused of murdering Phoenix resident Donovan Naicker has sought a protection order for her family following alleged threats to the family’s lives both outside court and at her Phoenix home.
Maymoona Reddy is struggling to keep her family, including six children, together as she runs between the Verulam magistrate’s court, her children’s school and a local hospital.
Her sons, 28-year-old Floyd and 24-year-old Jensen, along with Karl Pretorius, 24, have been charged with the murder of Naicker.
On March 10, Naicker, 38, was beaten to death, allegedly by the trio, as he tried to stop a fight near his home.
Naicker was apparently hit with a brick on the head, stoned and stabbed.
Dressed in formal wear with their hands behind their back, the trio stood in the dock on Friday to hear that their pre-trial was set for September.
They are currently out on R3 000 bail each.
The “Justice for Donovan Naicker” group on Facebook, which has thousands of followers, has described Naicker as a good Samaritan and a God-loving family man who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Pictures of a smiling Naicker on Facebook show him with his mother and sister in happier times.
While the Reddys’ mother said she felt the pain of Naicker’s family, she had been traumatised by the threats she had received from protesters at previous court appearances.
“Each time we come to court to support the boys, we are threatened. They take photographs of us.
“One person whispered: ‘Now we know who you are, we’ll come get you.’ We see strange cars outside our house, and we live in fear every day,” said Maymoona.
Her sister and mother accompanied her to court on Friday. They had to be assisted by court officials after they noticed photographs were being taken of them.
“They call us murderers too,” she said.
But a family member of
Naicker alleged that it was the supporters of the accused who had taken pictures of the “Justice for Donovan Naicker” protesters.
Earlier in the month, police were called in to disperse protesters outside the court who were angry that the accused had been granted bail.
“At the time, we were put in a police van for our protection and the protesters shook the van,” said Maymoona.
The Reddy and Naicker families live in the part of Phoenix where the killing took place.
Maymoona’s 8-year-old daughter doesn’t play outside anymore.
“She’s aware of what is happening. She’s scared to go out because of the strange cars that lurk in the area. My husband has been overworking, and I’m run ragged trying to pull my family together.”