Durban High Court hears recorded threats attributed to Ferrel Govender

Recordings played in the Durban High Court captured alleged threats by former Pro Secure CEO Ferrel Govender, a court heard on Wednesday. The comments were played during the murder trial of Ferrel and his brother Darren Govender, who are accused over the December 2024 shooting death of Durban businessman Shailen Singh.

Threatening phone calls and recorded evidence

According to IOL, a businessman who earlier had a relationship with the accused’s then-girlfriend testified that he received numerous calls from Ferrel Govender after an intoxicated telephone conversation with the woman. The witness said Govender accused him of insulting the woman’s mother and began threatening him.

Senior State Advocate Krishen Shah played recordings in court. In one recording, Govender is heard saying:

“I’m coming for you. You’re going to die, you ****.”

In another recording, the witness said he had called to apologise; Govender allegedly rejected the apology and said:

“I’m coming to show you who I am.”

Escalation and safety concerns

The witness told the court that Govender continued to hurl insults and threatened that the witness would “die like a dog,” saying he would die the same way his father had; the witness said his father was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2007.

The court heard that Govender allegedly arrived at the witness’s business accompanied by armed Pro Secure security guards. Video footage allegedly showing armed security personnel outside the establishment was played in court.

Legal steps and courtroom conduct

The threats prompted the businessman to apply for a protection order against Govender. He said police officers accompanied him to Pro Secure’s offices to serve the order but that Govender was allegedly out of the province when officers attempted service; the serving of the order was unsuccessful.

The following day the witness received an SMS from a cellphone number he said belonged to Chevon. The message contained an identity number and residential address and stated,

“I believe you are looking for me.”

Although the SMS was sent from Chevon’s cellphone number, the witness said he believed it had been sent by Ferrel Govender.

Courtroom management and next steps

During proceedings, Judge Mbuzeni Mathenjwa repeatedly cautioned members of the public in the gallery to maintain order and warned the accused to avoid making gestures in court, saying the court must maintain decorum.

The trial continues.

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