Drug lords are believed to have killed a wealthy Durban businessman, who was fetching his son from school.
|||A wealthy Durban businessman who allegedly refused to give in to extortion demands from drug lords was gunned down in front of his seven-year-old son when he went to fetch him from school on Friday afternoon.
Desmond Govender, 38, the owner of Roadstar Towing and Roadstar Bus Tours, was shot more than four times as he and his son walked towards his car, parked inside the premises of NPS Primary, in Springtown, near Asherville.
Govender had just watched his son play a cricket match when the killers struck.
It was the third attempt on Govender’s life in the past year. But friends and family close to him said he had refused to hide from the drug lords who threatened his life.
Drug lords allegedly living in Springtown demanded that Govender pay a monthly protection fee to them to ensure that he and his family did not come to any harm.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge confirmed the incident.
A police source said: “They ultimately wanted to control his business and his life. But, he never gave them any money.
“Several cases were reported to Sydenham police in the past about the death threats against Govender, but no one was ever arrested.
“He refused to give into their extortion demands, and this is what cost him his life.”
The source said that at 2pm a lone gunman had walked up to Govender in the parking lot and shot him once.
Govender fell to the ground and the gunman then fired several more shots, killing him. A teacher managed to pull Govender’s son aside. He was unhurt and was given counselling.
On Sunday, a strong police presence was visible at Govender’s funeral service at the Clare Estate Crematorium.
But, minutes after the police left, rapid gunfire was heard at the crematorium.
One witness, who did not want to be named, said Govender’s last rites were being performed when the gunfire started.
“We were in the hall when we heard the shots,” said the witness. “I ran outside and saw gunmen with automatic rifles firing into the air. More than 30 shots went off.
“Seconds later someone drove a white bantam bakkie at high speed into the crematorium grounds. The bakkie had no number plates. The… gunmen again opened fire and shot at the bakkie until it burst into flames. Some mourners got into their cars and drove off while others moved their cars in the fear that they would be set alight.
“Several people were also sitting under the trees drinking and cheering them on. It seemed like they were having a party. Thankfully, no one was injured.”
The witness said the police and the fire brigade had arrived about half an hour later but the parking lot had been cleared out by then.
The practice of firing shots and burning a car is normally observed by hijackers in honour of their own who are killed. The witness said speculation was rife that the act had been orchestrated by the drug lords in celebration of Govender’s killing.
His best friend, who also did not want to be named because he feared for his life, said Govender was not linked to any hijacking syndicate or crime underworld. He denied that mourners at Govender’s funeral were responsible for the gunfire or setting the vehicle alight.
“Desmond and I have been friends for over 10 years,” he said.
“He was a nurse before he decided to quit and start this business, which has been growing in leaps and bounds.
“He owned two palatial homes in the area where he lived and worked. He always gave back to the community and lived for his wife, who is also a nurse, and two children. They are extremely traumatised by what has happened. He did not live a life of crime. All his money was earned through hard work.
“This was a cowardly act. He did not deserve to be shot and killed in front of his child. This little boy will have to live with this trauma for the rest of his life. Even yesterday, he kept telling everybody how his daddy was shot.”
The friend said Govender’s towing business had also attracted a lot of rivalry.
“There were previous attempts on his life but Desmond refused to shy away from public life. He never worried about anything.”
The police are calling for anyone with information that could help in the investigation to contact Warrant Officer Monty Naicker at 083 225 8202. - Daily News