One suspect was arrested and charged for the murder of 76-year-old Muniamah Govender, who was found strangled in the en-suite of her home in Greendale Road in Silverglen, on 8 July.
Clive Pillay appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate s Court on charges of robbery and murder on Wednesday, and was remanded into police custody until his formal bail application, on Monday. Detectives from the Bayview SAPS are still searching for Pillay s accomplice. According to well-placed sources, Pillay and another male were hired by Govender to do maintenance work in her home. Pillay is allegedly homeless and is struggling with drug addiction.
Initial reports from Bayview SAPS indicated that after entering the house using his duplicate key, Govender s son found that the house had been ransacked and discovered his mother’s body in the en-suite of her 3-bedroom home. Valuables, including a 49-inch LG TV and her cellphone, were taken. Communications officer of the Bayview SAPS, Warrant Officer Collin Chetty, confirmed that police recovered the stolen TV. Police are still searching for one suspect and are appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything to contact them with information which will be treated with anonymity. The investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Khomo, can be contacted on 079-500-0139.
Meanwhile, police are urging elderly residents to carefully screen those who they employ to work on their premises, especially while they are alone. Residents need to ensure that persons who are seeking temporary employment are screened before employed. Also try to ensure that you obtain a copy of the person s identity document before employing the person. Elderly persons should not be left alone at home with persons who are employed on a temporary basis. Criminals are opportunists who will attack the elderly as they are vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, added W/O Chetty.
