Murder accused security company boss Ferrel Govender pursues fresh bail application

The fresh bail application for security company boss Ferrel Govender, who has been charged with the killing of  businessman Shailen Singh over an alleged love triangle, based on supposed new facts is due to continue at the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

In this latest application Govender essentially claimed that there was a sinister plot to run him and his business into the ground.

Therefore, his matter was being delayed, and it was likely that the trial could possibly only get going in the latter part of 2026 or early in 2027. 

He further claimed that his initial bail refusal led to First National Bank (FNB) closing his bank accounts.

Ferrel was charged alongside his brother, Darren Govender, who is currently out on R200,000 bail. The two are alleged to have shot and killed Singh in Umhlanga on December 29, 2024.

They have both been indicted by the Durban High Court, with a pre-trial conference set for next week. 

Ferrel, who was denied bail earlier this year, is attempting a fresh bail application based on new facts.

Previously, both the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his initial appeals.

In his latest affidavit, he claimed to be the target of a deliberate and coordinated effort to destroy him and his businesses.

“Due to my bail refusal, FNB has actively attempted to and finally closed all my bank accounts and those of my companies based on reputational risk,” he said.

He further stated that he was also faced with a significant recent reassessment of tax liabilities on him and his businesses. Additionally, Ferrel said there was no common purpose formed with Darren to kill Singh. 

He accused the State of falsely implicating him in the case, as State witnesses failed to identify him as the man who was the shooter on the day of the incident. 

In response to Ferrel's application, the investigating officer's opposing affidavit was read into the record, where doubts were raised about the veracity of Ferrel's claim that his bank account had been closed.

Warrant Officer Kumarasan ‘Bob’ Pillay, the investigating officer, disputed the claims of new facts in Ferrel’s application.

He stated that Ferrel was being untruthful in alleging that his bail denial had led to a significant re-evaluation of his tax liabilities and business interests.

Pillay also rejected the accusation that Ferrel and his brother were wrongly implicated in the case.

“There is no conspiracy to falsely implicate the applicant or his brother,” Pillay answered. 

Pillay further stated that Ferrel has never challenged the sequence of events as attested to in the initial bail application. 

“In the appeal court, the best Mr Hellens (advocate Michael Hellens SC) could offer was that the applicant was in the vicinity, whereas it was pointedly alleged that the applicant was parked next to Singh’s Hilux,” Pillay explained.

Hellens is representing Ferrel. 

Pillay further revealed that the State and court orderlies were not informed that Ferrel was consulting with a criminologist while awaiting indictment in the Durban Magistrate's Court cells in August.

On that day, senior State prosecutor advocate Krishen Shah indicated that this was alarming as it seemed that anybody could access Ferrel without the knowledge of those he was in custody of. 

In response, Pillay said that Hellens claimed the consultation had been communicated to the State, but suggested there was “likely a break in communication”, without elaborating further.

“There was never any request made to me, my team, nor the NPA for such access,” he explained.

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