Durban — A woman from KZN, who pretended to be a psychic, was ordered to pay back money totalling R5.5m after she tricked a family into believing she was communicating with their dead family member.
According to the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Deborah Govender was handed a court order that demanded she pay back R4 992 778.61 to Kajal Aheer, while she was ordered to pay a further R540 000 to Kajal’s father, Vinesh Gokul Aheer, IOL reported.
Aheer’s mother passed away from a heart attack in July 2015, and the family enlisted Govender’s services to communicate with their mother. The family found Govender’s ad on Gumtree and believed that she had supernatural powers which enabled her to pray to a deity and connect with the dead. Aheer relocated to Durban to be closer to Govender for the ‘readings’.
Next thing, Ms G tells Ms A that there were people who wanted to harm her, Ms G offered a solution and assured her that she will stop people from harming her by putting a spell on them. Ms G then started demanding money from Ms A for protection.
— Tina (@Tina_Hokwana) February 12, 2024
Govender claimed she communicated with the deceased mother, and said they were very happy and had developed a strong relationship. In 2017, Govender then started blackmailing the family, claiming that people wanted to harm her. Govender then duped Aheer into believing that she could put a spell on those wanting to harm her, which she demanded money for protection.
Govender started blackmailing the family into making further payments that included a a beauty spa, La Vida Spa. Additional appearances included monthly rent, and a Ford Mustang, jewellery, and other sums of payment.
Aheer told her brother about what was going on, he contacted a lawyer to assist and a protection order was obtained against Govender. Clinical psychologist Clive Willows, reported that Aheer was under duress in the relationship because the defendant posed a threat to her safety
The court ruled that Govender must pay monies back to the family with costs.
Payments made between November 2017 and and July 2020 amounting to R4 992 778.61. pic.twitter.com/80goCCOucX
— Tina (@Tina_Hokwana) February 12, 2024
Ms G was ordered to pay Ms A R4 992 778.61 and pay Ms A’s dad R540 000 + interest on both amounts. She was also ordered to pay Ms A’s costs including the costs of her experts, costs of their reports and court attendances and
the costs of two counsel where both senior and junior…— Tina (@Tina_Hokwana) February 12, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
