Darren Govender granted R200,000 bail, brother Ferrel denied bail in the Shailen Singh murder case

Durban businessman Ferrel Govender has been denied bail for his alleged involvement in Shailen Singh's murder, while his brother Darren Govender was granted R200,000 bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday .

The State asked for bail to be set at R1 million while his attorney said he could pay R200,000.

Magistrate Kevin Broughton said Darren was not a flight risk but was ordered to not contact the witnesses. There are six witnesses, including Singh's wife and father.

The matter was remanded to May 26 for further investigation.

There was silence as Broughton passed the ruling.

The brothers were arrested on January 1, 2025, in connection with the murder of Umhlanga businessman Shailen Singh. The 32-year-old was gunned down on December 29, 2024, at a parking lot on Meridian Drive in Umhlanga. He told his family he would be home in 15 minutes, his father Pradeep Singh told IOL. Singh’s vehicle had been riddled with bullets. He died at the scene.

In his ruling Magistrate Broughton said that Ferrel failed to provide exceptional circumstances.

The State has argued that the brothers who face a Schedule 6 bail application should be denied bail as they were likely to interfere with State witnesses and were likely to evade trial.

The State alleges that Singh was killed over an affair with Ferrel’s girlfriend. The State also alleges that CCTV footage placed both brothers at the scene of the crime and cellphone evidence between Ferrel and Singh minutes leading up to the murder.

This is a developing story.

IOL