Day two of the bail application for Ferrel and Darren Govender, who face charges of murdering uMhlanga businessman Shailen Singh, saw the State strongly oppose their release. The Govender brothers, arrested shortly after Singh’s tragic death on New Year’s Day, have been held in custody since. The State has indicated its intent to argue that the crime qualifies as a Schedule 6 offence, typically associated with premeditated or planned murder.
The decision to classify the offence under Schedule 6 has prompted further deliberations, with the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal expected to make a ruling on the matter soon. The classification would mean the Govenders face a significant legal challenge in their bid for bail.
As proceedings continue, a crowd of supporters gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning, wearing black T-shirts and holding placards proclaiming the brothers’ innocence. Their presence added an emotional layer to an already intense court session, which saw the courtroom packed to capacity. Among the attendees was Shailen Singh’s father, who has been following the case closely since the devastating loss of his son.
Singh, a 32-year-old father of one, was shot and killed in a parking lot on Meridian Drive in Umhlanga on December 29, 2024. He was struck by multiple gunshots and was declared dead at the scene. Singh, a businessman in the logistics industry, left behind a grieving family, who have yet to come to terms with the shocking incident.
The two brothers are accused of being involved in the brutal killing, though they maintain their innocence. With both defendants remaining incarcerated, the legal proceedings around their bail application and the seriousness of the charges continue to unfold.
