Murder case postponed

The family of a New Woodlands man who was assaulted and then died in hospital wants justice to be served.

Three men accused of murdering Rifaat Gabie, 30, appeared in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Thursday January 19.

Mr Gabie’s wife Naeemah Josephs, 27, from New Woodlands, was outside the court building collecting signatures for a petition calling on the magistrate to refuse bail for the trio.

Before court started she was flanked by other community members, his grandmother Kulsum Baker and his mother Nazeema Hendricks.

Ms Baker said her grandson was beaten up and left for dead on November 26. His hands and legs were tied. According to Ms Baker he had concrete slabs thrown on his face.

His brother found him and rushed him to hospital where he died three days later.

“We just want justice for Rifaat,” she said.

Ms Josephs said she had to be strong for their 5-year-old son. “He just started school and he wants to know when his daddy is coming home from Allah,” she said.

She said thankfully she is not alone. “It is difficult. You get used to someone and then they are just not there anymore,” she said.

Ms Hendricks said she has had sleepless nights since the death of her son. “I want justice for Rifaat; it wasn’t right what they did to him because he wasn’t a violent person,” she said.

The men were remanded into custody and the case postponed until March 1 for a possible bail application.