Durban police brutality case: another step closer to trial after seven years of delays

Regan Naidoo’s mother Cookie, father Timothy and aunt Premmie Pillay. “We will continue to pitch up for our son. Our fight is not over yet,” said Naidoo’s mother. Photo: Benita Enoch

• Repeated postponements and administrative inertia have plagued the case since Regan Naidoo’s death in police custody in 2018.
• 14 police officers remain in the dock after 22 were charged.
• On Monday, the state and defence signalled their readiness to proceed to pre-trial.
• A pretrial conference with a new presiding officer is set down for 20 March.

After seven years of procedural and administrative delays in the case of the death of Regan Naidoo in police custody, a new pre-trial conference has been set down for 20 March.

Fourteen police officers are charged with murder, attempted murder, torture, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice. They appeared in the Durban Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

At their last appearance, the defence was awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) over an evidentiary issue regarding a state witness. On Monday, the NDPP dismissed the appeal saying any disputes should be ventilated during the trial.

Addressing presiding Magistrate Mayne Mewalal, defence attorney Avir Maharaj confirmed the defence was happy to accept the NDPP’s ruling. “We have exhausted all avenues,” he said.

Mewalal noted the defence’s stance and ordered a new pre-trial conference to clarify the issues ahead of the trial.

A new presiding officer will take over from Mewalal.

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