Phoenix unrest murder trial hears tavern owner led attack
The Durban High Court has heard more chilling testimony in the trial of four men accused of murder, attempted murder, and public violence during the 2021 July unrest in Phoenix.
One of the victims, Njabulo Dlamini, died after being severely assaulted.
Two other men, Nkosikhona Madlala and Sandile Colin Sambo, survived the attack.
The court previously heard that the victims arrived at Tee’s Tavern, owned by one of the accused, Trevor Gopal.
They were allegedly there to buy liquor, which was apparently being sold illegally during the COVID-19 lockdown.
On Monday, the court was shown CCTV video footage of the victims’ minibus being surrounded outside the tavern before they were assaulted.
The court on Tuesday resumed viewing footage and saw a mob dragging wooden pallets over the victims as they lay wounded next to their now torched minibus.
A security vehicle is seen driving past the scene.
The witness testified that police were called several times and only arrived as the group was about to set the pallets alight.
He claimed the instruction to burn the victims came from inside the tavern, allegedly shouted through a window by accused number two, Gopal.
The witness, a former employee at the tavern, said no one on the premises acted without Gopal’s permission.
After the video ended, Gopal's defence read his written version in which he denies giving any orders or being present before the taxi arrived.
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