By Daily News Reporter
Shanaaz Shaik, the mother of little Nikita Pillay - who died after a vicious beating, allegedly at the hands of her father - will be arrested and will stand trial alongside her husband.
On Thursday the Durban regional court heard that the arrest of Shaik, who had recently given birth, had been stayed on humanitarian grounds after the death of the baby, the second child she had lost in less than three months.
Six-year-old Nikita died in March after she arrived home from school late and allegedly received a beating because her clothes were dirty.
The little girl's death made headlines and drew public outrage when it was discovered that she had been locked in a bathroom at her Westcliff, Chatsworth, home and beaten repeatedly.
She was rushed to RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth early the next day but was declared dead on arrival. Her father, Raveendran Pillay, was arrested and charged with murder. However, the charge sheet was subsequently amended and he now stands charged with culpable homicide.
It emerged on Thursday when 32-year-old Pillay appeared briefly in the Durban regional court for a bail application that Nikita's baby sister had died in hospital last week.
Pillay's bail application was expected to begin on Thursday. However, the matter was adjourned to June 30 because the magistrate was not available to continue hearing the matter today.
Pillay's previous court appearances have been characterised by vocal public protests calling for him to be denied bail.
At Thursday's hearing, however, state prosecutor Jackie Joncke told the magistrate that Nikita's mother, Shanaaz Shaik, 27, would be arrested soon.
She explained that Shaik, against whom protesters have also vented their anger, had two weeks ago given birth to a premature baby, which had died last week. She said the police had decided to delay her arrest on humanitarian grounds.
Joncke said that Shaik, once arrested, would appear in court alongside her husband and is also expected to lodge a bail application.
Nikita's grandmother, Shereen Shaik, who has attended every court appearance thus far, said her daughter was battling to come to terms with the death of her second child in three months. Shanaaz Shaik was four months pregnant at the time of Nikita's death.
Shaik said Shanaaz was seven months pregnant when doctors told her that they would have to operate on her last week and deliver the baby.
"She (the baby) was so tiny she weighed only about 1,1kg. But she managed to live for a week in an incubator," she said.
Shaik said her daughter had suffered from high levels of stress and tension after Nikita's death.
"I feel terribly sad for her and I think she had to deliver so early because of the tension and stress that had built up after Nikita died. She has been under a lot of pressure since then.
"The baby was only due in August. I saw Shanaaz at the hospital, she was so depressed but I think she's okay now," she said.
The latest blow has been hard on the Shaik family who are battling to come to terms with the death of Nikita, who was her grandparents' pet. They had been eagerly awaiting the birth of another grandchild to lavish their attention on when news of the baby's death reached them. However, Shereen was philosophical in the face of the latest loss.
"At least Nikita has a little sister with her," she said.