Narandas tells of bombs at plush brothel

Rosanne Narandas is afraid for her life, is being followed and has found petrol bombs at her house which was allegedly used as a brothel, a court has heard.

Durban - Durban businesswoman Rosanne Narandas says she is afraid for her life, is being followed and has found petrol bombs at her La Lucia house.

The sensational claims were heard when the nine people charged with operating a brothel from the house, as well as money laundering appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

However, the court also heard counterclaims from the defence that Narandas had assaulted some of the accused on the property and had produced a firearm.

Narandas had rented out her holiday home through a rental agency and in April, after a complaint to the Hawks that she suspected a brothel was operating from her property, the nine were arrested.

The alleged kingpins, Winston Everton, 46, and his ex-wife, Karen Everton (no age given), are said to have rented the property.

Also arrested were Mikaela van der Westhuizen, 32, Jolene Taliep, 34, Michelle McGregor, 39, Charlotte Cilliers, 39, and Kim Khoury (no age given), who were suspected of being prostitutes. Ifeanyni Hilary Ahanonu, 27, and Mandla Vezi, 53, were also arrested and all nine are on bail.

On Tuesday, State advocate Val Dafel asked magistrate Mahomed Motala to warn the Evertons not to make contact with Narandas, a State witness, and not to cause harm.

Dafel told the court that Narandas, as a landlady, had every right to be on the property and “inspect it in the light of what has happened”.

“The State’s concern is that (Narandas) approached our office and said she feared for her life and her property. She said she was being followed by the people from the house,” said Dafel.

Defence attorney, Nasser Ally, representing the Evertons, said Narandas had come on to the property. He also complained that R500 000 worth of furniture had “just gone”.

“If she (Narandas) fears for her life, she should rather avoid going to the property. She brandished a firearm. I have pictures of my clients being assaulted by (Narandas). These are not the actions of someone who’s scared,” said Ally in court.

Dafel suggested that if Narandas wanted to visit the property, she could do so with her attorney present.

Ally alleged the only time an altercation occurred was when Narandas went to the property. He said his clients claimed the petrol bombs were planted on the property.

The magistrate suggested both the State and the defence sort out the issue of the property and Narandas’s access to it. “I’m not going to add any bail conditions,” said Motala.

The matter was adjourned until September and a warrant of arrest was issued for Cilliers as she did not appear in court.

However, the warrant was later cancelled when she turned up. Her attorney, Nerissa Farrington, said Cilliers was taken down to the holding cells when she arrived in court at 10.30am.

When asked why she was late, Cilliers said: “I was in Richards Bay and my car broke down. I tried phoning the others, but all their cellphones were off. I’m very sorry.”

noelene.barbeau@inl.co.za

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