In a dramatic twist during the ongoing bail hearing at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, Darren Govender, one of the men accused of the cold-blooded murder of Shailen Singh, failed to recall a crucial detail from his past: a previous conviction for drug possession. His defense attorney revealed that the conviction occurred 14 years ago, but the revelation added another layer of complexity to the case.
Darren, 35, and his older brother, 40-year-old Ferrel Govender, are facing serious charges of murder after Singh, 32, was shot dead on December 29, 2024. The brothers are seeking bail under a Schedule 6 application, which means they must convince the court that there are exceptional circumstances that justify their release. The State alleges that the murder was premeditated, driven by jealousy after Ferrel suspected that Singh was having an affair with his girlfriend.
Ferrel, who runs a security company, Pro-Secure, told the court that his business and its 8,000 employees would face ruin without his leadership. He argued that his involvement in the murder was based on false identification, claiming that a witness in an identity parade did not identify him. However, the State countered with a different version of events, saying that a witness had indeed identified Ferrel at the crime scene, and another had opted not to attend the parade because the identification was already made.
Video evidence shown to the court on Wednesday added further tension to the hearing, though the details were not disclosed publicly due to the in-camera proceedings. The brothers were remanded to Westville Prison, and the case was adjourned to Friday.
While Ferrel faces mounting evidence linking him to the murder, Darren denies being part of the alleged crime. He maintains that he acted independently and intends to plead not guilty. In an affidavit, he expressed his intent to clear his name at trial, but the State presented a troubling history of criminal offenses.
Darren’s prior convictions, including one for drug possession in 2010 and another for driving under the influence in 2018, painted a picture of a troubled past. In addition, the State revealed an incident in 2011 where Darren was arrested for pointing a firearm and assault in Phoenix. Though the case was eventually dropped due to missing evidence, it further raised questions about his character.
As the case continues to unfold, the court is left to consider whether the Govender brothers, both with troubled pasts, should be granted bail. With the evidence mounting against them, including allegations of premeditated murder and the brothers’ own conflicting testimonies, the stakes could not be higher. The public is left wondering whether justice will be served or if these two men will walk free in the coming days.
