This week’s court wrap underlines the immense challenge victims of gender-based violence face through the South African criminal justice system. The cases of Melanie Stoffels, Aster* and Angela Koopman dragged on painstakingly long as the courts wait on further investigation. This term is used widely to refer to outstanding forensic evidence to be processed and police to continue the most basic aspects of an investigation.
In the case of Nadia Lotz, it is evident that the rights of criminals far outweigh the rights of victims. For us, it comes down to manipulating the court system because it is allowed.
Action Society is pushing for a specialised SAPS task force to address the backlog of gender-based violence cases. It has already facilitated faster case resolutions through funding for forensic support. We aim to improve the efficiency of case resolutions, reduce victim distress, and strengthen public safety through a public-private partnership with SAPS, exemplifying the impact of collaborative efforts on justice.
Here is the wrap for this week:
STRAND REGIONAL COURT
Nadia Lotz: Throat slit by boyfriend
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, will mark two years since Nadia Lotz had her throat slit open by her long-term boyfriend while they were travelling in a car together. Family and friends of Nadia are desperate for answers at this point, and the accused is employing a number of tactics to delay justice and keep himself out of prison for good. His tactic is constantly asking for a new defence lawyer, effectively indefinitely postponing any sort of progress in the case.
In March last year, the magistrate warned Charles Appollis that he needed to appoint a lawyer, either private or from Legal Aid after his latest legal representative withdrew from the case. He appointed a new lawyer, and after a few postponements to consult, in August he indicated he again wanted a new lawyer. The magistrate stated that the case would be postponed one final time for trial, and should no lawyer be present; the trial would continue without a defence lawyer. However, his lawyer was not present at his next appearance in September. The prosecutor said she wants life for Appollis and expressed her frustration with his numerous delay tactics, saying he has had enough time to appoint a lawyer. The magistrate berated Appollis for wasting the court’s time by failing to appoint a legal representative for 18 months. He stressed that if he has a legal representative at the next appearance, they will have to be ready for trial.
The matter was heard in court on 19 February 2025 and postponed to 19 March; however, it is not for trial.
Action Society is deeply distressed by this case. We are outraged that an accused murderer can manipulate the courts in this fashion. This case is a clear example of why we continually advocate for reforming our judicial system to improve efficiency.
ATHLONE MAGISTRATES COURT
Melanie Stoffels: Beaten to death with a hammer
The murder case of 26-year-old Melanie Stoffels continued in court in February. She was beaten to death with a hammer on 7 August 2024 in an apparent ‘hit’ organised by her ex-girlfriend in Heideveld. She was pregnant at the time of her murder. The attacker handed himself over to the police on 11 August, and the ex-girlfriend was arrested later that month. The case was heard in court on 5 February 2025 and was postponed to 3 March 2025. The local community were deeply disturbed by the case and signed a petition demanding that the two accused be denied bail. Action Society will do all we can to ensure the alleged killers remain behind bars.
BELVILLE MAGISTRATES COURT
*Aster: Young girl raped by her past
In December 2024, Action Society received a written mandate to oversee the horrendous case of Aster, a 14-year-old girl who was raped by a “pastor” in Delft in the Western Cape in late November 2024. According to reports, the pastor picked her up from her house (per their usual routine on a Saturday) to take her to a praise and worship session at their local church. However, on this day, he took the young girl to a rental house, where he proceeded to rape her. The case was heard in court on 18 February 2025 and was postponed to 15 April for further investigation. Action Society is pleased that bail was denied, as we have been advocating that the perpetrator not be granted bail under any circumstances. In early February, we sent a letter to the court supporting the petition of Women Impacting the Nation (WIN), arguing that he poses a danger to the public and granting him bail will potentially lead to more children being victimised. Our campaign to have no perpetrators in power continues.
PAARL REGIONAL COURT
*Daisy: Stalked and stabbed in the head
Action Society has been supporting the 16-year-old girl who was nearly killed after her ex-boyfriend stabbed her in the lung. 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 accused appeared in the Paarl Regional Court on 11 February 2025, when the matter was postponed to 14 March for plea and trial.
This story, and many others like it, highlights the sad reality that a failing police and court system allows violent criminals to continue targeting and harming the innocent. Daisy’s story (and many others like it) is one of the main driving forces behind Action Society’s continued push to strengthen a zero-tolerance approach for perpetrators of violence against women. The police should have done more to pursue this case earlier, as there was a clear Assault GBH case against the accused after the first attack. Instead, she had to obtain a protection order, which he contravened. Too often, women are shown the door at police stations after an assault to get protection orders without cases being opened. This must end.
MITCHELLS PLAIN MAGISTRATES COURT
Angela Koopman: Doused in petrol and set alight
The horrific murder case of Angela Koopman continued in court in February. Angela was doused in petrol and set alight by her partner on 22 March 2024. She was rushed to hospital, where she eventually died from the severe burns she sustained. The matter was heard in court on 12 February 2025 and was postponed to 20 March in Regional Court A.
Magrieta Carolus: Elderly lady assaulted by neighbour
A 70-year-old woman was attacked by her neighbour in Strandfontein in the Western Cape on 20 October 2024 in yet another incident of elderly abuse. According to reports, an altercation erupted between the two neighbours when the man pushed her to the edge of her garage, and she struck the pavement. The accused had continuously intimidated the elderly lady in the past. The case was heard in court on 19 February 2025 and was postponed to 28 February.
KUILSRIVIER MAGISTRATES COURT
*Granny Clover: Elderly lady assaulted by family member
Action Society is vehemently opposed to violence against the elderly. Granny Clover was assaulted in her home by a close family member on 4 July 2024 in a video that soon went viral. In the latest proceedings, the case was heard in court on 13 February 2025, marked as final and postponed to 6 March. The young man’s atrocious behaviour was widely condemned and underscores the sad reality that the elderly are preyed on as easy targets. We hope that the punishment this young man receives will deter future attacks on our elderly.
PAROW REGIONAL COURT
*Granny Azalea: Elderly lady assaulted by grandson
The assault case on an elderly lady from Langa in the Western Cape who was attacked by her grandson on 6 July 2024, was struck off the court roll. The family indicated that the victim did not want to continue with the case against her grandson as she thought he had learned his lesson. He paid for the damages he caused and apologised.
KHAYELITSHA REGIONAL COURT A
Churchgoers: 19 women assaulted during Easter service
Action Society is pleased to see that the case against the churchgoers who were assaulted in 2023 is moving along well. Action Society was mandated to oversee the case from September 2023. The trial continued on 13, 18, 20 and 25 February 2025, when a fifth witness testified. This case has numerous witnesses, and the trial will be lengthy. However, the version of events as to what occurred on Easter Sunday in 2023 thus far aligns with the initial statements. The trial will continue on April 14, 15, and 16 and then again on April 29.
*Pseudonyms are used to protect the identity of victims
