Charges provisionally withdrawn against ‘killer friend’

The family and friends of a 23-year-old Montford man, who was shot and killed, allegedly by a friend, are praying for the justice system to shine in their favour, after the charges against the accused in the case were provisionally withdrawn.

Dalen Gounden’s untimely passing has left a trail of trauma, heartache, and anger in its wake. He was killed in September 2025, just a few weeks before celebrating his 24th birthday.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Robert Netshiunda, initially confirmed that a murder probe was underway at the time. “Amanzimtoti police have opened a murder case following an incident in which a 23-year-old man was allegedly fatally shot during an argument. Reports indicate that on September, 26, 2025, the victim and the accused drove along the R102 at Illovo Beach when an argument broke out, which resulted in the accused shooting the victim,” he said at the time.

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The accused in the case, Dilyn Keanu, appeared in the Umlazi Magistrates Court on Wednesday, April 22, with a bulletproof vest and an escort of more than a dozen police officers, according to a friend of the victim.

“For each of his past appearances, he was escorted by members of his security company, Sizani Protection Services, but now had over 20 cops around him. In court, they said that the case was provisionally withdrawn due to outstanding documents, including the Tracker report, bank statements, and more. If this is all they were waiting for, why is it taking so long? Now the accused is a free man for the most part, but we are hoping that justice and the truth prevail,” the friend said.

The young victim’s heartbroken father, Nagentheran Gounden, explained that they were informed of his death through their own investigations, and not the police. “Dalen was a very humble, caring person who loved his soccer, friends, and family. He would never harm anyone, and his friends and family can vouch for that. Unfortunately, he had to meet up with people who were not his type, and they took his life. He came home on that fateful day, had a haircut, picked his sister up, dropped her off at home, and then he told us that he was going to watch soccer at a ground in Escombe- that was the last conversation that we had with him. We noticed that he did not come home that night. It was only when I received an SMS from the tracking company that the device was disarmed via the battery that we made enquiries. We found that the vehicle was at the Amanzimtoti police station. We asked one of his friends to go through to the police station to check what was happening. He told us that we needed to come to the station, where we were informed that he had been shot and is no longer with us. His future was bright, and he had incredible relationships. We all loved him to bits,” the father told the Rising Sun.

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The deceased’s close friends, who have been deeply affected following his death, described Dalen as a kind-hearted soul who always went out of his way to help us all.

“There was never a day that went by that he did not make us smile and laugh. He will never die in our hearts. He was a good friend, the best anyone could ask for, a brother, and a great son to his parents. We will always love and miss him,” the friends said. One of his friends also alleged that the accused left the crime scene for three hours before returning.

“During this time, he bathed and changed clothes. We do not know if Dalen suffered in those three hours and if he could have been saved,” the friend claimed.