Minerva Gardens murder case transferred to High Court after third accused added

The Minerva Gardens murder case has been transferred to the Northern Cape High Court after a third suspect was added this week.

Obaray Mabija was joined as a co-accused when the matter appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on August 20.

The case stems from a shooting on December 21, 2024, in which Charmaine Anthony was killed and her son, Lucan, was wounded in the leg and buttocks.

Advocate Dr Celeste Nameka, her father, Clive Ferris, and co-accused Obaray Mabija are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and the unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Mabija told the court he intends to appoint a Legal Aid South Africa representative. The state handed over the indictment, confirming that the matter will be transferred to the Northern Cape High Court for a pre-trial conference next month.

According to the investigating officer, Ferris responded to his daughter’s frantic calls for help on the morning of the incident after Nameka and Lucan allegedly accused each other of infidelity. 

The situation escalated into pandemonium when Lucan was allegedly assaulted, strangled and threatened at gunpoint, while a belt was tied around his neck and he was dragged on the ground. 

A group of men wearing balaclavas are believed to have arrived on the scene and proceeded to assault Lucan. 

Charmaine was fatally shot while she was speaking on her cellphone in the Minerva Gardens complex premises. 

Ferris allegedly chased after Lucan and his brother while Nameka repeatedly kept on shouting, ‘Shoot them, daddy, shoot them all.’ 

Kimberley magistrate Kubashni Padayachee advised the accused to appear in the Northern Cape High Court on November 24.

Nameka and Ferris are out on bail, and Mabija was released on a warning.

Padayachee added that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had provisionally withdrawn an additional assault charge against Nameka that was lodged by a family member of the deceased. 

She stated that the bail of R500 in respect of the assault charge would be refunded to Nameka.  

Meanwhile, a separate matter argument involving the Legal Practice Council (LPC) and Nameka will be heard in the Northern Cape High Court on October 31.

The LPC has applied for the suspension of Nameka, following several complaints that were formally registered against her for investigation.