Adv. Gerrie Nel presents closing arguments in Deedat case
22 November 2021
Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, today made closing arguments in the inquest into the death of Suraya Deedat and her four children (between the ages of six months and four years) in a fire in 2011. The Unit represent Suraya’s family in the inquest. Naeem Deedat, Suraya’s husband and the only person who survived the fire, is the person of interest in this inquest.
For almost a decade nobody has been held accountable for the deaths of Suraya and her children, and the formal inquest gives interested parties the opportunity to test evidence and to help the magistrate come to a conclusion about who and/or what was responsible for their deaths. Magistrate John Maloba is expected to make his decision on Wednesday with regard to whether Naeem can be held accountable for their deaths. Thereafter the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must make a decision about prosecuting this person.
Nel during closing arguments emphasized that Naeem ought to be prosecuted on charges of the murder of Suraya and their four children. The evidence that he should indeed be held accountable for their deaths is overwhelming and includes that:
Naeem survived without any injuries – his beard had not even been singed;