The Action Society team continued our oversight in several court cases in the past month. Most of our cases are still moving along at a very slow pace because of challenges ranging from overfull court rolls to inadequate investigation and inexperienced or underperforming prosecutors. Our criminal justice system, including the police and courts, is critically failing, denying swift justice for victims of crime. We want to reiterate our belief that now is the time for the state to take hands with civil society to restore faith in our justice system.
“Action Society calls for a special task force to be set up to tackle the surge in GBV cases. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be used to add investigative, forensic and prosecuting capacity so that cases can be solved and successfully prosecuted,” says Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm.
Here is the wrap for the week:
KHAYELITSHA REGIONAL COURT
Churchgoers: 19 women sexually assaulted during service
Action Society is pleased with the progress made in the case of the 19 churchgoers who were sexually assaulted during a service in 2023. The testimonial phase of the proceedings has provided invaluable evidence to the charges the men are facing. As it stands, the 13th witness is set to provide their testimony. On 29 April, the proceedings were postponed to 6 May as the prosecutor was ill.
KHAYELITSHA MAGISTRATES COURT
Barbershop massacre
Two children, aged 11 and 12, and an adult aged 30, were killed inside a barbershop during a mass shooting on June 8, 2024. Three other children were rushed to the hospital, where a 5-year-old died of their injuries. In their statement, the police said they have reason to believe the shooting was extortion-related. The suspects were granted bail, respectively R5 000 and R10 000 in July 2024. The case was heard in court on 2 April 2025, but one of the accused failed to show up, and a warrant of arrest was issued. Both accused appeared on 16 April, and the case was postponed to 12 May to obtain a regional court date.
PAARL MAGISTRATES COURT
Asiphe Cetywayo: Body tossed in a dumping site
Herdsmen found Asiphe’s mutilated body at the Vlakkeland dumping site on Monday, March 4, 2024. The 22-year-old student was raped and murdered the previous day, and her body was severely burnt with acid. The case was heard in court on 10 April 2025 and was postponed to 26 June for further investigation.
MITCHELLS PLAIN MAGISTRATES COURT
Maggie Carolus: Elderly woman 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. A protection order was granted, and the court case on the assault charge was postponed to 10 April for further investigation. Even though the magistrate was not present at the last appearance, another magistrate stood in and postponed the matter to 12 May.
Angela Koopman: Doused in petrol and set alight
More than a year has passed since the horrific murder case of Angela Koopman. The mother of two was doused in petrol and set alight by her partner on 22 March 2024. She was rushed to the hospital, where she eventually died from the severe burns she sustained. The case was heard in court on 15 April, where the case was provisionally postponed to 2 May and then 14 May for trial preparation. The prosecutor confirmed that a trial date has been set for 27 May 2025.
ATHLONE MAGISTRATES COURT
Melanie Stoffels: Beaten to death with a hammer
The murder case of 26-year-old Melanie Stoffels continued in court in April. 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 24 April 2025 and was postponed to 2 June where it will be determined whether the case will be moved to the regional or high court.
MITCHELLS PLAIN REGIONAL COURT
Violet: Raped by uncle
Action Society was appalled to hear that the man who was found guilty of raping his 12-year-old niece – Violet* – and sentenced to 15 years in prison in October last year was granted bail on a measly R2000. Action Society first became involved with the case in April of 2022, and was frustrated by various delays including faulty court equipment, unavailable court interpreters and overflowing sexual offences court rolls. We will continue to fight for this young girl until justice is served.
PRETORIA HIGH COURT
Charlene Pretorius: Set alight by husband
The murder trial of Charlene Pretorius was due to begin on 29 Apr 2025, but the state requested an adjournment. Unfortunately, in so many cases, the state prosecutors are not up to the task of representing the cases they are called upon to represent. Action Society will do everything in our power to ensure that the case is ready for the next trial period between 20 and 31 October. This highlights one of the many challenges that South Africans must overcome to see justice.
