Latest news with #TeesTavern
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Court scrutinises defence's questioning tactics in Phoenix trial
A State witness has told the Durban High Court that he cannot remember how many times one man lashed him with a sjambok as he was being assaulted by a lot of armed people in Phoenix, during the July unrest. Image: Nomonde Zondi The defence faced criticism at the Durban High Court on Friday after forcing a State witness to testify about the several times one of the four accused males struck him with a sjambok during the July 2021 unrest, when he and his companions were brutally attacked by a mob in Phoenix. The State witness, Nkosikhona Madlala, is currently being cross-examined by advocate Ali Essop, who is representing Ravine Naidoo, charged with public violence and murder. Naidoo is charged along with Tees Tavern owner Trevor Gopal, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender. The four men allegedly severely assaulted Madlala, Njabulo Dlamini, and Sandile Sambo with golf clubs, sticks, baseball bats, and sjamboks. Dlamini subsequently died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital due to blunt force head injuries. The trio had come to Phoenix with Linda Khuzwayo and Sanele Merase to buy cocaine from Tees' Tavern. Moreover, the court has learned that Naidoo was one of the people who assaulted Madlala on July 12, 2021, in Phoenix. Madlala has told the court that when they were about to leave Tees Tavern, a white bakkie blocked them, and a crowd forced them to get out of the Toyota Quantum they were travelling in. He said that when they refused to sit next to their taxi after being forced to get out by the armed crowd, the driver of the bakkie fired a shot, and he and his friends ran away in different directions. During the cross-examination, Essop questioned Madlala about the number of times Naidoo lashed him with a sjambok. Madlala said he did not recall, but Essop asked him if he could estimate, and he replied, 'No.' 'I cannot estimate because I do not want to lie before the court. A lot was happening there,' Madlala said. He said many people were assaulting him, and he noticed Naidoo, who was wearing black tracksuits, had at one point taken off his top and was left with a green T-shirt. However, Essop said he would argue that Madlala is an elusive witness because whenever questions are put to him, he starts by saying he does not want to lie to the court. Judge Mluleki Chithi interjected at that moment and asked Essop why he would suggest that Madlala is an elusive witness. He said the prosecutor, advocate Thabani Buthelezi, did ask Madlala if he remembers how many times Naidoo lashed him, and he said he could not recall. 'Court would not be viewing in the dim light how many times the witness was lashed by accused one (Naidoo),' Judge Chithi said. Additionally, he said Madlala was in a volatile situation where he was severely assaulted by numerous people. He said if one is in pain, they are unable to count the number of times they are being beaten up. Essop told the judge that he was trying to defend his client. 'This witness testified that he was severely assaulted by numerous people. You are expecting this witness to say how many blows. He said there were other people whom he was unable to identify. This person was threatened that he would be put in a burning taxi, and you expect him to know how many times he was beaten up?' the judge asked. Essop ended up saying he would drop the question. The trial continues.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Witness reveals cocaine purchases at Tees Tavern during High Court trial
The Durban High Court has learned that a State witness used to buy drugs at Tees Tavern. Image: File A victim of the violence that took place in Phoenix during the July 2021 unrest has told the Durban High Court on Tuesday morning that he used to buy cocaine from Tees Tavern. However, he told the court that he does not know Trevor Gopal, who allegedly incited violence against black Africans. Gopal is on trial with Ravine Naidoo, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender for the murder of Njabulo Allen Dlamini, two counts of attempted murder, public violence, and malicious property damage. Gopal, the owner of Tees Tavern, is also charged with incitement to commit public violence. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The victim, who is a State witness, Nkosikhona Madlala, 27, has told the court that before July 12, 2021, the day when he was allegedly assaulted together with his two friends, he had gone to Tees Tavern. Madlala, who started leading his evidence on Tuesday, stated that on the day of the incident, July 12, 2021, Dlamini, Sandile Sambo, Sanele Merase, Mthobisi Ntuli, and Linda Khawula came to fetch him at his home in iNanda. He said the driver was Merase. 'They came in a Toyota Quantum with a written logo on its rear and above the windscreen, Touch Africa,' Madlala explained. He said that as his friends came to fetch him from his home, they told him 'that we must go to Tees' Tavern to buy'. Madlala said he went inside the house to take money, and they then drove to Phoenix. Additionally, he mentioned that some roads had been closed with plastic barricades. Moreover, Madlala has so far told the court that he knows Naidoo, Tyreece, and Timothy from the scene on July 12. He, however, said he does not know Gopal. 'It is the first time seeing him here,' Madlala told the court. According to the State, Dlamini, Madlala, and Sambo were hit with golf sticks, baseball bats, and sjamboks. It also alleges that wooden pallets were placed on their bodies and liquid fuel was poured on them with the intent to burn them to death. Dlamini later died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital due to blunt force head injuries. The previous State witness told the court that Gopal ordered that Madlala, Sambo, and Dlamini be burnt together with their taxi after they were assaulted. He also stated that Tyreece and Timothy assaulted Dlamini with a hammer and a rock on the head. The trial continues.
IOL News
25-07-2025
- IOL News
Witness claims Phoenix tavern owner sought to frame him in July unrest trial
In an ongoing 2021 July unrest trial, a State witness has told the court that one of the accused wanted to frame him for incitement of public violence. Image: Nomonde Zondi A State witness in the 2021 July unrest trial involving men from Phoenix has told the Durban High Court on Friday that people advised him to leave Phoenix because Tees Tavern owner, Trevor Gopal, wanted to implicate him in the murder and inciting public violence cases in Phoenix. Gopal is on trial with Ravine Naidoo, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender for murder, two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence. Additionally, Gopal is charged with incitement to commit public violence. The State is alleging that Gopal incited his security guards and members of the public to commit acts of public violence against black Africans visiting Phoenix during the unrest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Anard Chetty, a State witness, told the court that the people in the community, including Naidoo's wife, told him to leave Phoenix as Gopal wanted him to take the fall for him. 'Do you have names of these people who told you this?' advocate Jimmy Howse SC, representing Gopal, asked. Chetty said it was word on the street, adding that people who told him are those who used to take care of his well-being as he was sleeping at Tees Tavern. He later mentioned that Naidoo's wife was among those people. However, after a long break, Howse told Chetty that Naidoo's wife was called, and she had denied that she told him to leave Phoenix. Howse said there was no evidence against Gopal until Chetty implicated him. 'I can't say I am the only one implicating accused two (Gopal),' Chetty responded. Howse told him that the witness statements of the victims, who were allegedly assaulted by the accused, claim there was an informal roadblock in Phoenix before reaching the Tees Tavern. He said the victims drove straight through it, and a person standing there was hit by the taxi's mirror. He said the cars that Chetty had claimed earlier this week were called by Gopal after a scuffle had broken out in his tavern while the victims were there, and came from that roadblock. Chetty disagreed with him. 'Those were Tees men,' he said. As Howse backed Chetty into a corner about inconsistencies in his witness statements and his evidence-in-chief, Chetty asked him not to put him under pressure. 'Do not put me under pressure. Why should I be under pressure for something I had no hand in? I'm not the criminal here, nor am I somebody running illegal activities,' Chetty said. Judge Mluleki Chithi patiently calmed Chetty down and told him to answer the questions. However, Chetty told Judge Chithi that Howse was playing tricks on him. As the cross-examination continued, Judge Chithi had to warn Chetty not to be disrespectful and to learn to answer questions that were asked. As Chetty got agitated by Howse, he would consistently tell him to stop playing tricks on him and ask him a lot of questions at the same time. During the commission of the offences, Njabulo Allen Dlamini was assaulted, hit with a rock and a hammer on the head. He later died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital from blunt force head injuries. Nkosikhona Madlala and Sandile Colin Sambo survived after they were also allegedly assaulted and had fuel poured on them while pallets were placed on top of them. All the accused are out on bail. The trial would continue on Monday.
