ICYMI: Justice at long last for family of murder victim

The family of Theolan Nair, who was shot dead in Kyalami in 2018, has expressed their relief that his killers have been convicted.

Nair and Niveshlin Pillay were shot dead by Lester Lloyd Latchman and Prenashan Govender during an incident that occurred in the early hours of the morning on 12 August 2018.

This after an argument broke out between the two victims and perpetrators at a nightclub in Kyalami.

The spokesperson for Midrand Police Station, Sergeant Matome Tlamela, said the two perpetrators had pulled out their firearms and shot Nair and Pillay before fleeing. Nair and Pillay were pronounced dead at the scene.

The case had been in and out of court for two years before a guilty verdict was handed down to Latchman and Govender. They both received life sentences for murder along with an additional three years each for possession of unlicensed firearms.

Theolan Nair’s mother* said, “My life changed when I received that terrible call. Two years later, and it feels like I just received that call.

“The past two years of my life have been an experience of unbearable pain or should I say the utmost pain, having being robbed of my precious son.”

She added not a day passed without tears and a sore heart which nothing could heal. “Nobody else will understand this kind of pain but a mother.

I cried every time, just thinking of the way Theo was robbed of his life. I had to endure the pain of looking at my son’s murderers who had attitudes of indifference, one of them was even out on bail.”

She said 12 August was the two-year anniversary of her dear son’s death. “I was totally upset, even more upset to be away from home.

“Thankfully, on that day these two murderers were convicted of double murder. As a mum, I was blessed with the news when I heard that they both got double life sentences. I thanked God for my answered prayers.”

Nair’s wife* said, “The loss of my husband at such a young age has left me totally heartbroken. We were planning a family and had set so many goals but were robbed of all of this when tragedy struck.”

Nair’s father* thanked the Midrand police for their work in attaining the conviction. He said, “I had lots of dreams for my son. Never did I expect him to pass on before me. Rather, like all parents, I prayed for his well-being. He had so much more to live for, so much more to accomplish.”

He added that time did not heal and, in fact, it gets harder. “In the course of these two years, my family had joined a support group to help us through this grief. We are only dealing with the tragedy better but the pain will never leave us.

“This fight was not one of revenge but rather one for justice. Justice has been served. The Nair family is so thankful that Lester Latchman and Prenashan Govender have been put behind bars. This would prevent the loss of other innocent lives by these two murderers. There is a law and thus nobody can take the law into their hands and go around shooting people.”

*The family wished for their names to not be published.