Action Society has been formally mandated by the family of 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies to oversee the criminal proceedings into her murder, ensuring transparency and consistent monitoring as the case unfolds. The organisation has called on the court to deny bail to the remaining accused, highlighting the brutal nature of the crime and the trauma suffered by the community.
Chanelle went missing on 14 May 2025 and was reported missing on 28 May.
In the days that followed, Chanelle’s family and the broader Paarl East community launched a tireless search. It was her sister who discovered one of her shoes near a wooded area behind the Allandale Correctional Centre. The search team, guided in part by information from an inmate at the prison, made a chilling discovery: a shallow grave near a dam. A female body, wrapped in a black bag, was found on 2 June. Chanelle’s father began digging after the shoe was discovered, before police took over the scene.
DNA results later confirmed what the family feared — the body was Chanelle’s.
Three men were arrested. One of the accused is believed to have been in a previous relationship with Chanelle. Two of the suspects have since abandoned their bail applications. The third will appear in the Paarl Magistrates Court on 1 July for a formal bail hearing.
“Our role going forward will be to stand with Chanelle’s family in court and in the public eye,” said Kaylynn Palm, head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape. “Our presence will ensure this case is not buried under delays or inefficiencies. Chanelle was a child. Her murder cannot be met with silence or compromise.”
Last week’s court appearance drew overwhelming support, with the public gallery filled by residents, friends, and relatives who gathered in a shared call for justice.
“Chanelle’s story echoes the fears of families across South Africa,” Palm added. “We urge the court to deny bail in this matter. There is too much at stake – the safety of our daughters, the trust in our justice system, and the right of every victim to have their case treated with the gravity it deserves.”
Action Society will continue to monitor this case, advocating for reform and greater accountability in the justice system, especially in cases involving gender-based violence and crimes against children.
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