Action Society supported five victims of murder and sexual violence in court last week in our continued fight against the abuse of women and children.
Cleo Diko: Murdered, stuffed under a bed with a rope around her neck
(14 November; Mitchells Plain Court)
Cleo Diko’s decomposed body was found hidden underneath a man’s bed at the end of January this year. Her body was covered with cement and tiles, and a rope was tied around her neck like a noose. Her killer, Sandile Yegwa, was arrested near the railway lines where he was living. He was charged with a schedule six offence and indicated in later appearances he would not be using defence attorneys. In the latest appearance, he appeared before the Mitchells Plain Court, which postponed the matter to 22 November 2023.
Read more: https://actionsociety.co.za/?s=+Cleo+Diko
Langa boy: Burnt with boiling water
(15 November; Parow Regional Court)
A four-year-old boy from Langa suffered severe burn wounds after a woman threw boiling water at him. The woman said that the young boy was annoying her by playing outside her gate. She appeared before the Parow Regional Court after previously being granted bail of R3 000, and the case was postponed to 19 January 2024.
Read more: https://actionsociety.co.za/tag/langa-boy/
Esona Maquba: Raped and stabbed
(15 November; Parow Regional Court)
Esona Maquba was raped and stabbed multiple times in Fisantekraal, Durbanville. She was followed by a man she recognised from the area who tried to rape her. After she called out his name, he tried to kill her by stabbing her multiple times. Esona survived the incident, and the accused is in custody. He appeared before the Belville Magistrates Court, and the matter has been postponed to 5 February 2024 for trial.
Thimna Kuze
(16 November; Khayelitsha Magistrates Court)
Thimna Kuze, an innocent 13-year-old Khayelitsha girl, was sleeping over at a friend’s house in March this year when she was last seen alive. Her dead body was discovered the following day in a nearby shack, with blood in her nose, mouth and groin area. It is believed that she was raped before she was killed. The suspect in her murder appeared at the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court last week, where the matter was postponed to 14 December for further investigation.
Read more: https://actionsociety.co.za/tag/thimna-kuze/
Nadia Lotz: Stabbed in the neck
(15 November; Strand Magistrates Court)
Charles Appolis, who is charged with killing Nadia Lotz, will appear in court again on 13 December. It is reported that he killed Nadia after slitting her throat while they were in a moving car in March this year. He was out on bail when he killed her.
Read more: https://actionsociety.co.za/tag/nadia-lotz/
