Westville widow's crime spree: new R1 million theft charge

A 74-YEAR-old Westville widow, who allegedly drugged and robbed elderly casino patrons, faces a seventh charge involving R1 million in jewellery and a luxury car theft.

Despite claiming stage 4 cancer, Hannah Naidoo's criminal history spans decades, with police describing her as having "a dangerous lust for money".

Naidoo made an application for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday. 

The mother of four is now facing seven charges, including robbery with aggravated circumstances, attempted murder and theft.

Last Tuesday, Naidoo was charged with a new theft charge after it was alleged that she had robbed Pathmavathi Moodley, 78, of Sydenham, of R1 million worth of jewellery, her Mercedes Benz and clothing, on August 3, 2018.

She was previously charged for attempted murder and theft after she allegedly laced a 66-year-old woman’s tea and robbed her of R20 000 at Suncoast Casino, in May, and for assaulting, drugging, and robbing a 92-year-old grandmother of R337 000 worth of jewellery and watches from her flat in Durban, in March 2024.

It is alleged that she had befriended the elderly woman at the casino, gained her trust, and visited her with a milkshake and cake. The milkshake was laced with a sedative.

A third victim came forward after Naidoo’s photograph was circulated in the media. She was charged with attempted murder and theft and a 67-year-old Montclair woman claimed Naidoo had drugged her by lacing her sandwich and tea with sedatives and stole R60 000 worth of jewellery, including a thali chain in September 2024.

In her bail hearing, Naidoo, by way of an affidavit read by her attorney Advocate Ashwin Baijnath, said if released on bail, she would not endanger the safety of anyone, or commit any offences.

“There is no evidence that I pose a danger to the public. My husband passed away in 2016 and I have since resided alone.  I have no dependents and my income is my pension and money I inherited from my late husband's estate.

“I was diagnosed with fourth stage colon cancer in 2020 and was to undergo chemotherapy at Parklands Hospital. But I contracted the Covid-19 virus twice and due to the effects and complications, I could not undergo chemotherapy. “However, I would have to undergo such treatment or else I would not survive much longer,” she said.

Naidoo declared a previous case of theft which she had committed in 1981.

At the time she was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment, suspended for five years.

She was also convicted of offences relating to monetary debts in 1991 and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for five years.

A pending case of theft, which she is alleged to have committed in 2025 is set for trial next month.

She said since her arrest in June she had spent most of her time in the Westville Prison clinic which was not designed for her treatment and did not have specialist doctors who could attend to her medical condition.

“I have been nothing but a burden to the Department of Correctional Services and a drain on their financial resources,” she added.

Investigating officer, Sergeant Uzair Sheik from the eThekwini District Task Team, said he was opposed to bail due to Naidoo being a repeat offender.

He said she had a dangerous lust for money.

 “It must be taken into account that this accused has a serious disregard for the law as can be seen from the circumstances surrounding these cases as well as the other pending case she was charged for.

“She knew exactly what she was doing and had a blatant disregard for human life and the consequences of her actions, and also blatant disregard for the law.

“She was overcome by a lust for money so much that a human life and the impacts her actions had, and the trauma she caused to innocent victims meant nothing to her.

“The accused started committing crime from the time she was 29 years old in 1980, and still continues to this day.

“We are not even aware of how many other cases have been reported as she has a tendency of befriending her victims at Suncoast Casino and many might not know how to trace her.

“She does not even care if her friends could have died from being drugged. If one cannot even care for friendship, then such a person cannot be a member of society and must be denied bail. The accused is using her age in an attempt to apply for bail. However, it clearly shows that previously she was released on bail and committed further similar crimes while out on bail. We cannot go on allowing people like the accused to roam the streets,” he added.

Sheik said Naidoo planned the commission of the offences in advance.

“This is evident from how these crimes were committed. Every offence she was charged for are very serious and violent offences. She drugged her victims in order to steal their property and did not even have any concern whether her victims died. 

“The victims were all elderly females and most certainly could have died if it were not for the people finding them timeously and getting medical attention for them.

“This is evidence enough that this accused is a very violent criminal who commits offences of a very serious nature and does not care for human lives. She will do anything in order to complete the criminal act and fuel her lust for greed and money,” added Sheik.

The case was adjourned for the court to subpoena Doctor Rukaya Hoosen, who is employed by the Department of Correctional Services, to give evidence.

THE POST