Indian-origin family upset with South African justice system

An Indian-origin family here has expressed outrage after a court granted bail to an Indian-origin teenager charged with murdering a member of the family.

The Moodley family of Chatsworth, an area in Durban largely dominated by people of Indian origin, has expressed outrage at the justice system after a local magistrate's court granted bail to Cleo Romano Munsamy, 18, who has been charged with stabbing to death Dareshan Moodley, the Independent Online reported Wednesday.

"This is not justice. The system has let us down," a relative of the Moodleys was quoted as saying.

A 16-year-old schoolboy, Darshan and his brother Revarsheen, along with a group of friends, were returning home from a local fair in the early hours of April 28 when they were attacked by a gang accompanying the suspect.

While Darshan died at the scene after being stabbed, Revarsheen had to be admitted to hospital with serious injuries.

The incident had its roots in an earlier incident in their school, Welebedene Secondary School, when the suspect had hit Darshan for speaking to the former's sister.

Darshan had fought back but the accused took out a knife and stabbed him.

Though detective warrant officer A. Singh told the court Tuesday that he had received phone calls from people that they would deal with Munsamy if he was let off, magistrate E.M. Mzolo said that it would not be fair not to grant bail given the accused's age.

"I'm sure the Chatsworth community are law abiding citizens and they will accept any decision the court makes," the report quoted Mzolo as saying.

Munsamy has been charged with murder, attempted murder and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He has been granted bail for 1500 rands.