Still no consolation for Desai family

Date: 28 November 2015 By: Isabel Venter

There is still little consolation for the family of the late Mr Bhavesh Desai (43) who was brutally killed in an armed attack.

Bhavesh was shot dead by an unknown number of suspects, who had followed him to his home at Wylliespoort after he had been visiting family in Eltivillas, on 5 October 2014. When Bhavesh tried to flee from his home’s gate in his car, the attacker(s) opened fire on him with a semi-automatic rifle before fleeing from the scene. 

Shortly after the attack, two of the Desai family’s employees were taken into police custody on suspicion that they might have been involved. Rose Makhavhlu (43) and Patricia Livhuwani Netshisaula (38) of Nzhelele were later charged with Bhavesh’s murder and released on R5 000 bail each. Since then, the case has been proceeding at a snail's pace, and no further arrests have been made.

A third suspect, Liremi Mbulaheni Madilongamakatu (32), was also questioned and charged with the murder. Recently, the director of public prosecution (DPP) ordered that Madilongamakatu be cleared of all charges as not enough evidence against him was obtained by the police.

The DPP also ordered that the charge of murder against Makhavhlu and Netshisaula be changed to a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit murder. The two women’s trial was set to commence in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court this Tuesday.

Only Netshisaula appeared before the court, as Makhavhlu was receiving treatment for an unknown ailment in the hospital. Both were ordered by the court to be back on 14 and 15 March 2016, so the trial can start.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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