Nadia Khan|Published
BLINDFOLDED and taken into bushes where he was assaulted, stabbed and strangled are believed to have been the final moments of life that Phoenix e-hailing driver Mohammed Muzaffar “Muzi” Saib endured.
The 24-year-old Whetstone resident was allegedly killed in January this year after a 15-year-old teenager requested a ride, with the State alleging that the trip formed part of a plan to rob him of his vehicle and valuables.
Four male accused, including the teenager, who were arrested and charged with kidnapping, murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, made their first appearance in the Durban High Court last Thursday.
Sibusiso Wanda Dlamini, 36, of KwaMashu; the 15-year-old from Phoenix; Wesley Govender, 33, and Zane Junior Subramanian, 18, both of Bhambayi, are accused of being involved in the killing.
The State, represented by prosecutor Rakesh Singh, alleged that the accused and a fifth person, identified in the indictment as “Thobani”, conspired to rob Mohammed.
According to the indictment previously served, they allegedly killed Saib on January 6, 2026, and stole his cash, vehicle, a gold ring engraved with “Muzi”, a gold chain and his cellphones.
It is alleged that during the evening of January 5, Mohammed, who worked as a driver on the Bolt e-hailing platform, was requested to transport the 15-year-old from Shawham Place to Greenbury Drive in Phoenix to collect food.
“At some point before, during or after the trip, the assailants, acting in furtherance of a common purpose, formed a common design and conspired to rob the deceased (Mohammed) of his motor vehicle, money, cellular telephones, and other valuables," read the court papers.
The State alleged that to achieve their objective and overcome any resistance, at least two members of the group armed themselves with knives.
It is alleged that the minor returned with Mohammed to the area of Shawham Place, where the other assailants confronted him.
Mohammed was allegedly blindfolded and unlawfully deprived of his freedom of movement.
The minor allegedly drove Mohammed’s vehicle to the Rydalvale Grounds, where he was then taken into nearby bushes.
“Acting in concert and in furtherance of their common purpose, the assailants strangled, assaulted and stabbed the deceased,” read the court papers.
Following a post-mortem examination, Mohammed’s cause of death was determined to be a “penetrating incision on the right ventricle and strangulation”.
The matter was adjourned to next month.
Speaking to the POST after their court appearance, Yusrah Saib, his younger sister, said the swift progression of the matter to the High Court brought their family a sense of relief, hope and a small step towards closure.
“We never expected things to move forward this quickly, and it has given our family a renewed sense of hope. Through all the pain, uncertainty and difficult moments, our faith in Allah has carried us. Surely, Allah never fails us. We continue to place our trust in Him, praying that He grants us the strength to see this journey through until justice is served.”
Saib said Mohammed was her only sibling and found herself having to navigate life as an only child.
“It has been an incredibly difficult journey, as I have had to deal with my own grief while trying to remain strong for my parents and be their source of comfort through the loss of their eldest child and only son.
“Muzi's absence is felt in every minute of our lives. Not a day passes without his name being mentioned, a memory being shared or something reminding us of the beautiful place he held in our lives. His absence has left a deep void not only within our family but also in the lives of so many people who knew and loved him.
“There is no celebration that feels quite the same without him. He was the live wire of our family, the person who brought energy, life and happiness into our moments together. This year has been a year of painful firsts - birthdays, special occasions, family gatherings and milestones that we have had to face without him. Every occasion reminds us of the space he should have occupied and the laughter we should have shared with him,” she said.
Saib added that in terms of justice, the family was not asking for anything “beyond what is right”.
“At the end of this long and painful journey, all our family wants is for justice to be served fairly, correctly and in accordance with the law. We simply want the truth to prevail, accountability to follow and the legal process to take its proper course.
“Although nothing can ever bring Muzi back or fill the emptiness his passing has left behind, knowing that the matter is moving forward gives us renewed strength to continue. We also believe that seeking justice is not only important for Muzi and our family, but for every family that may one day find itself facing a similar tragedy.
“If pursuing justice for Muzi can help ensure that another family does not have to endure this same pain without accountability, then our fight carries an even greater purpose. We cannot change what happened to our boy, but we can continue to fight for what is right in his name,” she said.