The lawyers representing Ferrel and Darren Govender, accused of the brutal murder of uMhlanga businessman Shailen Singh, successfully petitioned for the duo to spend the night at Durban Central SAPS rather than the more distant and harsher Westville Prison. This request, which was approved by the court, is seen as a strategic move to allow the accused to have more time to consult with their legal team before their scheduled bail application. The brothers, who were arrested on New Year’s Day, face serious charges in connection with Singh’s death, which occurred on December 29, 2024, in a parking lot on Meridian Drive in uMhlanga.
Singh, 32, was shot multiple times, leading to his tragic death. The Govender brothers, according to the charge sheet, are accused of being directly involved in the fatal shooting. The gravity of the charges has led the State to argue that this is a Schedule 6 offence, which typically involves serious crimes carrying a high risk of violent re-offending. As a result, the bail application is being closely scrutinized, with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) yet to make a final decision on the schedule for the application, pushing the matter to be adjourned until Tuesday morning.
Outside the courthouse on Monday, a show of support for the Govender brothers was evident, with a group of people donning T-shirts bearing the brothers’ faces and the slogan “The Govenders are innocent.” This public display of solidarity highlighted the controversial nature of the case, with some members of the community rallying behind the accused, while others question their involvement in the crime.
Ferrel Govender is being represented by attorney Ravindra Maniklall, who argued that the brothers’ detention at Durban Central SAPS would allow for more effective consultations between them and their legal team. Maniklall stressed that being held at Westville Prison would make this communication far more difficult, and the brothers’ rights to legal representation should be prioritized.
As the bail hearing looms, all eyes will be on the court to see whether the Govender brothers will be granted bail in the face of such serious charges. The legal battle ahead promises to be closely watched, with many anticipating the outcome of the DPP’s decision and the final ruling on their bail application.
