PORT ELIZABETH, May 18 (ANA) – A 21-year-old Port Elizabeth man made his first appearance in the city’s magistrate’s court on Wednesday in connection with the murder of Malabar Patrols community policing forum founder, Naeem Desai.
Deswyn Kleinbooi, who hails from Helenvale, appeared briefly in court and opted to abandon his bail application.
Last week “Captain†Naeem Desai from Jadeeds Bakery was delivering bread in Helenvale when he was gunned down and left for dead in his truck in Fitchard street.
Desai’s co-workers, who were in a spaza shop delivering bread at the time, heard gunshots and rushed outside where they saw four men fleeing the scene.
According to community members who live in the area, Desai had been targeted for a long time by alleged members from the “sestien honde†(sixteen dogs) gang.
Malabar Patrols is a crime prevention initiative which started in 2008 when community members noticed an alarming increase in crime in the suburb.
Security was once again tight at court with TRT members spread out in strategic positions. It’s understood that security has been beefed up as a result of an influx of gang cases on the court roll.
A large group of Desai’s family members were also present at court but refused to speak to the media.
According to the charge sheet, which is provisional at this stage, Kleinbooi faces charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Murder is a schedule six offence.
Court documents indicate that he has no previous convictions or pending cases against him.
Kleinbooi was arrested over the weekend for an alleged attempted murder which took place in November last year. Members of the Gang Task Team subsequently linked Kleinbooi to Desai’s murder.
Kleinbooi appeared in a separate court room on Wednesday on the charges of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Both cases were postponed until June 28 for further investigation. At his next court appearance Kleinbooi will appear via a video link- up.
-African News Agency (ANA)
