A psychic who extorted R5m from a grieving client who wanted closure after the death of her mother, and another R540,000 from her father, has been ordered to pay back the money.
Pietermaritzburg acting high court judge M Sibisi also directed that his ruling be referred to the national director of public prosecutions to consider possible criminal proceedings against psychic Deborah Govender.
In the civil case, Kajal Aheer claimed just under R5m — money she said she paid to Govender under duress after Govender threatened to expose potentially damaging confidential information about her.
Her father, Vinesh Aheer, claimed R540,000 — money he said he paid because Govender told him Kajal owed it to her.
Kajal said she met Govender after seeing an advertisement for a psychic after the sudden death of her mother in 2015 from a heart attack.
In her evidence, Kajal said she battled to cope, she had not had an opportunity to bid farewell to her mother and her heart was broken.
Govender’s advert claimed she could connect with the dead.
Kajal believed Govender had supernatural powers that enabled her to pray to a deity and connect with the dead.
Kajal, who was living in Greytown at the time, moved to Durban to be closer to Govender.
She said she was never present when Govender “communicated” with her late mother, but Govender told her her mother was happy about their relationship.
She was happy to pay Govender in the initial stages of their relationship, but in October 2017 Govender started blackmailing her.
Govender told her people wanted to harm her, but she could stop this through spells.
She demanded protection money.
Kajal said she had shared intimate details of relationships which Govender threatened to expose to her conservative family.
Govender also went behind her back and bought the beauty salon where she was working.
Kajal made 44 payments to Govender, paying almost R5m between November 2017 and July 2020, when she had exhausted her funds, including her investments.
Kajal then confessed everything to her brother.
She got a protection order against Govender and instituted legal proceedings.
Vinesh testified he had been contacted by Govender, who told him his daughter owed her money. She threatened legal action.
He did not want Kajal to be “blacklisted”, so he ended up paying about R540,000 at various stages.
In support of her case, Kajal called clinical psychologist Clive Willows, who said she perceived the threats by Govender to be real.
“She was trapped in a traumatic relationship in which she was forced to pay for services she did not want or face physical harm or reputational damage,” Sibisi said.
“It was the finding of Willows that she could not escape this entrapment without the risk of exposing herself to [Govender’s] threats.”
Because of her vulnerability, Kajal had been open to abuse.
Sibisi noted Govender, who represented herself, had attended only the first day of the trial and then could not be contacted.
However, a document she purported to be an acknowledgment of a R2.5m debt in her favour — apparently for a laser liposuction machine and household goods — had been examined by a forensic expert who said the signature on it was not Kajal’s.
Sibisi said neither the evidence of this expert, nor that of Willows, had been contradicted.
The allegations were supported by evidence, and had Govender continued her defence “she would have had a difficult case to argue”.
He said Kajal and Govender shared the same religious beliefs. Kajal had sought closure and wanted to establish contact with her mother.
The first contract — for psychic services — was above board.
“The second contract is, however, a different matter and points to extortion. It was entered into for an illegal purpose and is thus illegal.
“The facts of this matter reveal the possible commission of a crime,” Sibisi said, granting judgment against Govender for R5.5m plus interest and costs.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.