The Durban High Court has learned that taxi man Njabulo Allen Dlamini, who was one of the people assaulted in Phoenix, Durban, during the July 2021 civil unrest, died after he spasmed three times at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in front of his friend. 

This is after the three friends were rescued by a police van that was seen approaching Groove End Road, the street by Tees Tavern, as the crowd attacking them was about to burn them alive.

Four men, Ravine Naidoo, Trevor Gopal, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender, are charged with the murder of Dlamini. They face two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence. 

Nkosikhona Madlala, who is currently on the stand and was with Dlamini in his last moments, told the court that as they were being assaulted, he noticed blood gushing from Dlamini’s head and his back.

He said that after they were assaulted next to the burning taxi, three pallets were placed on each person.

According to Madlala, they came to Tees Tavern to buy cocaine, as they use it whenever they are drinking alcohol, so they would not fall asleep. 

Madlala said he, Dlamini, and Sandile Sambo were assaulted with golf clubs, sticks, and baseball bats. He said they were placed near the taxi during the assault, and a liquid he believed to be petrol or diesel was poured over them. 

“The liquid was contained in a 10-litre bucket,” Madlala added.  

He said that when the pallets were placed over them, Dlamini and Sambo were not moving; he did not know whether they were dead or had fainted.

When State prosecutor, Advocate Thabani Buthelezi, asked him if he had seen the people who placed the pallets on them, he said no. 

Moreover, Madlala told the court that after the liquid was poured on them, the perpetrators attempted to light a match three times, but it did not ignite due to the wind. He added that he heard people saying that they must be burned. 

“I could not see the people saying this because of the liquid that had been poured on us, my eyes were itchy and I could not open them,” he said. 

Madlala said what saved them from being burnt was a police van. “I heard someone shouting that the police are coming,” he said. 

He said he tried to peek through the pallets when the crowd dispersed, and he saw a black African female police officer coming out of the van. He said this officer was the one who called the ambulance, which took them to the hospital. 

He said as they got there in about 15 minutes, Dlamini spasmed thrice, and he died. 

Asked by Judge Mluleki Chithi if there was a medical officer who certified Dlamini dead, Madlala said yes. 

The trial continues.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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