Phoenix unrest murder trial: Witness recounts alleged attack outside Teez Tavern

Linda Khawula, a witness at the Durban High Court, recounted the brutal attack that resulted in the death of her friend Njabulo Dlamini during the July 2021 unrest in Phoenix. Trevor Gopal, the owner of Teez Tavern; his son Tyreece Govender, Ravine Naidoo, and Timothy Govender were all charged with murder, attempted murder, and malicious damage to property.

According to Khawula, the group of residents assaulted and killed Dlamini outside the tavern. Gopal faces an additional charge of incitement to commit public violence for allegedly instructing his security guards and community members to assault and burn the victims.

Khawula, who was traveling with Dlamini and other friends to Teez Tavern to buy cocaine, claimed that they were stopped at two informal roadblocks set up by the community to prevent people from entering and exiting Phoenix. At one of these roadblocks, the side mirror of their taxi hit a community member's arm, causing the driver to stop.

Khawula stated that after driving off, the group arrived at Teez Tavern, where Dlamini went inside to purchase drugs. Sanele Merase and Nkosikhona Madlala went to urinate, returning to the vehicle with the drugs, which were then prepared by Sambo.

Witnesses allege that vehicles suddenly appeared, and about four men entered the taxi, demanding to know the driver's identity. A crowd of people joined them, and Khawula testified that Gopal, his son, Naidoo, and Govender were part of the group. They were allegedly beaten with baseball bats, golf sticks, hammers, and sjamboks. Khawula stated that she fled when someone fired a shot in the air and sought refuge in a container near the tavern. She claimed she witnessed her friends being beaten and covered with pallets to be burned alive.