Action Society continued to support victims of sexual violence and murder across nine different courts in the past two weeks
AMANZIMTOTI MAGISTRATES COURT:
Liezel de Jager: Beloved reverend murdered by husband
Efforts to get Liezel de Jager’s killer, Werner de Jager, behind bars for life, are still ongoing. Werner was charged with killing Liezel in November last year and was denied bail. The matter appeared before the court on 14 March where Werner applied for legal aid, and the trial is set to continue on 10 May 2024. He will remain in custody.
VREDENDAL MAGISTRATES’ COURT:
Nadine Klaase: Strangled in her bed
Nadine Klaase was strangled to death in her bed in Vredendal North on 6 October, 2023. The suspected killer was her boyfriend at the time, and he was arrested the night her body was discovered. Her body was found with multiple scratches on her skin, she had a bloodied nose, and a shoelace was tied around her neck. The matter was heard in court on 19 March and was postponed to 10 April 2024.
LUTZVILLE MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Carmen Gouws: Killed by axe wielding abuser
Carmen Gouws was brutally killed by an axe wielding murderer on her 21st birthday last year. Her alleged killer had a long history of abusing her. The matter was heard in court on 7 March and was postponed to 10 April 2024 for a possible Regional court date.
WYNBERG MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Melissa Bianca Dale: Raped and murdered at a military base
The investigation into the brutal rape and murder of Melissa Bianca Dale has been completed. Dale, a disabled woman who was murdered on the grounds of the Wynberg Military base, is suspected to have been raped and murdered by the son of a South African Defence Force member living on the premises. The matter was heard in court on 12 March and was postponed to 8 April 2024 for a pre-trial conference.
MITCHELLS PLAIN MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Churchgoers assaulted: Nineteen women from Khayelitsha were sexually assaulted on Easter Sunday while preparing for the service last year. Two men entered the church and forced the women to undress and perform sexual acts whilst beating them. The matter was heard in court on 14 March and was provisionally postponed to 29 April 2024.
*Iris: Raped by mother’s ex-husband
Action Society was approached by the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was being raped by the mother’s ex-husband. He allegedly raped her while he was giving her a bath. The matter was heard in court on 16 March and has been postponed to 8 April 2024 for further investigation.
KHAYELITSHA MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Thimna Kuze: Found dead in a shack
On the 25th of March last year, Thimna was sleeping over at a friend’s house, and was found dead a day later in a shack with blood in her nose, mouth and her groin area. It is believed that she was raped before she was killed. The matter was heard in court on 13 March and was postponed to 18 April 2024.
PAARL MAGISTRATES’ COURT:
Asiphe Cetywayo: Body thrown in a dumpsite
Asiphe’s mutilated body was found by herdsman at the Vlakkeland dumping site on Monday, March 4, 2024. She was raped and murdered the previous day and her body was severely burnt with acid. The matter was heard in court on 25 March, and was postponed to April 5, 2024 for bail application.
*Violet: Raped by uncle
Action Society supported Violet*, a teenager who was raped by her uncle in 2019. This case has been particularly frustrating and has been postponed at least 14 times. Once again, there was no French interpreter at the court on 20 March and the matter was postponed to 27 March 2024 for further trial.
PAARL REGIONAL COURT:
Alwaba Sondara: Beaten to death
Alwaba was brutally beaten by her boyfriend, Asive Kulwane (28 at the time) on 18 December 2021. The accused took her to the Khayelitsha hospital more than an hour away and then fled the area. Later, she was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital where she remained in a coma until she died on 12 January 2022. The matter went to trial on March 25, and will continue on 26 March 2024.
Mietjie Ontong: Killed in her house in cold blood
Mietjie Ontong (63), a pillar in her community, was murdered in cold blood in her house in Hermon last year. Dozens of her friends and family stood with Action Society when her two alleged killers first appeared in court. The matter was heard in court on 25 March, and was postponed to 29 April 2024 for its first appearance in the Regional court.
*Daisy: Stalked and stabbed
Action Society has been supporting the 16-year-old girl who was nearly killed after her ex-boyfriend stabbed her in the lungs. Despite a protection order, he continued to stalk her and attempted to take her life on 17 July 2023 by stabbing her in the head. The matter was heard on 11 March, and has been postponed to 18 June 2024 for new legal aid to be obtained.
STRAND REGIONAL COURT:
Nadia Lotz: Stabbed in the neck
It has been more than a year since Nadia Lotz, a mother of three, was stabbed in the neck by her partner of 13 years, Charles Appolis. The two were passengers in Nadia’s friend’s car when Appolis played their favourite song and suddenly stabbed Nadia in the neck and slit her throat. The matter was heard in court on 19 March, and was postponed to 3 April 2024. This comes after the accused’s lawyer withdrew from the case and is no longer his legal representative. He now has to seek a private lawyer or apply for legal aid.
BELLVILLE MAGISTRATE’S COURT:
*Jason Hendricks: Raped in a bush near his school
The case against the attacker accused of raping Jason Hendricks continues to drag along frustratingly slowly for the young boy’s family. Jason was raped in Belhar in the Tygerberg area in Cape Town last year. The matter was heard on 13 March and has been postponed to 13 May 2024 for its first appearance in Regional court.
*Iris, Violet, Daisy and Jason Hendricks are pseudonyms used to protect the identity of the victims
