Although 2024 was a tumultuous year for the victims that Action Society represent, our hardworking team enjoyed many victories in some of our most challenging and disturbing cases. However, we remain concerned about the slow nature of many of these cases and the general decay in our justice system that leaves too many victims without justice. The case of the Malmesbury molester underscores just how broken our justice system is. He was accused of molesting three children three years ago, yet he evaded prosecution for two years, and it has been more than six months since he was placed on the waiting list for evaluation in a psychiatric hospital. Action Society also condemns the painstakingly slow progress in Candice Robertson’s murder case. When the case resumes, it will be four days after the 1000-day marker of her murder.
MALMESBURY REGIONAL COURT
Malmesbury Molester: Highlighting demand for psychiatric hospital capacity in criminal cases
Action Society continues to push for a man accused of molesting three children in Malmesbury to be permanently removed from society. He was first arrested in 2021 but was let go on a warning. After his arrest, the accused bought time by changing lawyers on three occasions. Action Society wants to highlight the urgent demand for capacity in psychiatric hospitals related to criminal cases. The matter again appeared on the court roll on 9 December 2025 and was postponed to January 20, 2025, for placement at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital to evaluate if he is fit to stand trial.
KHAYELITSHA REGIONAL COURT
Barbershop shooting
Two children, aged 11 and 12, and an adult aged 30, were killed inside a barbershop during a mass shooting on 8 June 2024. Three other children were rushed to hospital where a 5-year-old died of their injuries. The police believe the shooting was extortion-related. The matter was heard in court on 12 December 2024 and was postponed to 23 January 2025 for a regional court date.
Nosiphiwo James: Stabbed to death with a screwdriver
Action Society continues our oversight in the murder case of Nosiphiwo James more than two years after she was brutally stabbed to death with a screwdriver in her neck on 8 May 2022. The state closed its case on 11 December 2024, and the matter was postponed to 20 January 2025 for further trial when the defence will present its case.
CAPE TOWN REGIONAL COURT C
Candice Roberson: Murder dressed as suicide
Candice Robertson was murdered in a guesthouse in Green Point by her partner on April 30, 2022. He tried to make the murder look like a suicide, telling the police that she had hung herself. However, police suspected foul play, and the man was arrested. The matter was most recently heard in court on 19 November 2024 and has been postponed to 28 January 2025 as the defence’s legal representative was not able to attend court. This will be four days after the 1000-days marker since her murder.
PROTEA MAGISTRATES COURT
Nomasonto Modzanane: Bakkie murder caught on CCTV
Nomasonto Modzanane was killed in broad daylight after a bakkie purposefully struck her on 21 February 2024 in Randfontein as she was crossing the road. CCTV video footage shows the driver of the bakkie run over Nomasonto before he puts the car into reverse to run over her body again, after which he flees the scene. The matter was heard in court on 6 December 2024 and has been postponed to February 2025 for a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on prosecution.
MITCHELLS PLAIN REGIONAL COURT
Lekesha Marthinus: Killed with a beer bottle to the head
The murder case of Lekesha Marthinus was temporarily withdrawn due to an outstanding post-mortem report until October 2024, after she was killed on 5 November 2022 by her boyfriend, who fatally threw a beer bottle at her head. At the time of her murder, she was holding her then nine-month-old baby. In the latest development, the matter was heard in court on 10 December 2024 and postponed to 24 January 2025. The defence attorney indicated that he has not yet had time to consult with his client due to other priority cases, which is becoming an all too familiar excuse in our cases.
MITCHELLS PLAIN MAGISTRATES COURT
14-year-old gang raped and videotaped
The boys and teenagers who in October 2024 recorded their gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Kapteinsklip Station, Mitchells Plain appeared in juvenile court on 4 December 2024 and has been postponed to 27 February 2025 for further investigation. Action Society will continue to oversee this case.
Iris: Raped by mother’s ex-husband
The stepfather of a 15-year-old girl, accused of raping his ex-wife’s daughter from a young age, often while giving her a bath, appeared in Mitchells Plain Regional Court B on 12 December 2024 and was postponed to 17 January 2025 for a pre-trial conference.
PRETORIA HIGH COURT
Bathabile Maria Mnguni: Mutilated and murdered by husband
Maria Mnguni’s husband slit her throat and stabbed her to death in front of their 10-year-old daughter on 1 January 2024. Afterwards, he cut and mutilated her face and locked the body in a bedroom with the young girl. The monster threatened to kill the girl if she dared call for help or made any noises. The matter was heard in court on 3 December 2024, where the accused pleaded guilty, and sentencing is set to commence on 24 January 2025.
