Teenager (15) among four accused in alleged murder of Phoenix e-hailing driver

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”.