The Govender brothers, Ferrel, 40, and Darren, 35, are facing serious charges of murder following the death of Shailen Singh. The brothers, who are currently awaiting a decision on their bail application, have been remanded at Westville Prison since their arrest on January 1, 2025. The matter is scheduled to return to the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Both Ferrel and Darren deny any involvement in Singh’s death and have expressed their intention to attend trial to clear their names. However, the State has presented a compelling case against them, including an explosive 27-page affidavit from lead investigator Kumarasan Bob Pillay. According to the State, the motive behind the murder was linked to an affair, though further details have not been made public.
The investigation has also uncovered significant evidence, including phone records showing calls made from Ferrel to Singh just minutes before the fatal shooting. CCTV footage from the scene of the crime places two vehicles at the location — a black BMW X5, which was driven by Ferrel, and a black Ford Ranger, which was driven by Darren. The brothers are said to have left the Meridian Drive parking in uMhlanga on December 29, 2024, around the time of the incident.
In the aftermath of the murder, details of the brothers’ movements on December 29 were revealed. According to a domestic helper at Ferrel’s home in uMhlanga, both brothers arrived at the residence at around 12:30 pm, where they had a Nando’s meal for lunch. They stayed at the property until 7:00 pm that evening. On December 31, 2024, the helper informed authorities that Ferrel packed several items, including jeans, t-shirts, underwear, and toiletries, before leaving the house in his G-Wagon.
The investigation took a further turn when Ferrel was ordered by the Magistrate to hand over his firearm to the authorities during their first court appearance on January 3, 2025. The court gave him a 12-hour deadline to comply. Ferrel provided the police with an address in Sandton, Gauteng, where he claimed the firearm was stored. However, when the investigating team arrived at the premises on January 4, they found that the safe where the weapon was said to be kept was empty. To date, Ferrel has not complied with the court’s order to hand over the firearm.
In a separate development, police discovered five firearms at Darren’s home. This discovery has added further weight to the charges against the brothers as the investigation into Singh’s murder continues to unfold. As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming court appearances and the evidence that will be presented to determine the brothers’ fate.
