KEY POINTS
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Phoenix attorney Vanie Govender’s home was targeted in a second petrol bomb attack, resulting in the destruction of her vehicle.
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The family suspects the attacks are linked to their legal work and are living in fear for their safety.
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Local police have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incidents.
In the early hours of last Thursday, the Eastbury residence of Phoenix attorney Vanie Govender was the scene of a devastating petrol bomb attack, marking the second such incident in recent months.
According to IOL, the assault resulted in the complete destruction of her vehicle, intensifying fears for her family’s safety.
Govender recounted the harrowing experience, stating, “In January, a petrol bomb was thrown onto my property, but thankfully my daughter was at my home at the time and heard the explosion. She managed to get help to quickly put the fire out. There was minimal damage to her vehicle. However, this time, my entire vehicle was burnt. Only the shell was left.”
At the time of the latest attack, Govender’s husband was hospitalized following spinal surgery, and she was staying with her daughter.
A neighbour alerted them to the fire around 1 a.m., prompting a rushed return to their home. Upon arrival, they found the car engulfed in flames.
Complicating firefighting efforts, the area was experiencing water-shedding, a common issue in northern Durban. Govender lamented, “From the afternoon our taps are often dry. This has been an ongoing issue, especially in the north of Durban for months, even years, in some areas. Even if there was any chance of saving my car, it would not have been possible without access to piped water. So, we just stood and watched helplessly. While I am grateful that no one was hurt or killed, it was devastating to watch our hard-earned belongings go up in flames.”
Repeated nature of the attacks
The repeated nature of these attacks has left the Govender family in a state of fear. Vanie expressed concerns that the incidents might be linked to her legal work, noting, “This is not the first time, so we believe someone is trying to hurt us. My daughter and I are both attorneys and believe this could possibly be related to a case we have won. It seems the other party now has a vendetta and wants to take revenge. We are living in fear of our safety and hope the police can speed up its investigations and find out who is responsible for these attacks, before it is too late.”
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a spokesperson for the provincial police, confirmed that Phoenix police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property. He stated that the investigation is ongoing.
