Action Society’s ongoing court oversight continues to expose a justice system in drift. Across multiple courts, cases involving murder, rape, child abuse and domestic violence are repeatedly stalled by postponements, missing reports, absent legal representatives and unresolved procedural failures. These delays are no longer isolated incidents but a systemic pattern that undermines accountability and retraumatises families. Action Society monitors these cases to force transparency, track responsibility and make it clear that justice delayed is unacceptable.
“When the same failures repeat across different courts and different cases, it becomes clear that this is not about individual delays but a system that has grown comfortable with postponement,” said Kaylynn Palm, Head of the Action Society Action Centre in the Western Cape. “Missing reports, absent legal representatives and unfinished investigations are stalling cases involving extreme violence against women and children. These delays retraumatise families and steadily erode public trust. Action Society’s court oversight exists to expose these failures, demand accountability and make it clear that justice delayed cannot be allowed to become the norm.”
MITCHELL’S PLAIN REGIONAL COURT
Angela Koopman: Burned alive
Last appearance: 9 February 2026
Next appearance: March 2026
Angela Koopman’s tragic death shocked her community after her boyfriend allegedly set her alight on 22 March 2024, leaving her with fatal burn wounds. During the last appearance on 9 February, the Facebook messages that the victim’s family received from prison was discussed and the case was postponed to 9 March when the discussions about the Facebook messages will continue.
Churchgoers Sexual Assault Case
Last appearance: 3 February 2026
Next appearance: 3 to 5 March 2026
Nineteen women were robbed and sexually assaulted inside a church in Site C, Khayelitsha on Easter Sunday 2023. Two armed men entered during a power outage, robbed congregants and then forced women to undress and perform sexual acts at gunpoint. The case was postponed on 3 February 2026 to 3, 4 and 5 March 2026 for further evidence.
Thimna Kuze: Raped and murdered at 13 years old
Last appearance: 2 February 2026
Next appearance: 25 February 2026
On the night of 25 March 2023, Thimna stayed over at a friend’s house. By the next day, she was found dead in a shack, with blood in her nose, mouth and groin. The evidence points to a brutal rape and murder that cut short her young life. In February 2026 the case had to be postponed because the accused dismissed his attorney. The case is set to continue on 25 February 2026.
Lekesha Marthinus: Judgement against Austin du Plessis postponed
Last appearance: 6 February 2026
Next appearance: 17 February 2026
Lekesha died on 5 November 2022 after Du Plessis, her boyfriend at the time, threw a beer bottle at her head while she was holding her nine month old baby. She was rushed to hospital and declared dead on arrival. The judgement against Austin du Plessis, the accused in 18 year old Lekesha Marthinus’s murder, was postponed for the fifth time on 6 February 2026. The magistrate was not ready to deliver judgement after a previous family crisis caused another postponement in January. Judgement is now scheduled for 17 February 2026.
PAARL REGIONAL COURT
Asiphe Cetywayo: Raped, murdered, burned with acid
Last appearance: 8 December 2025
Next appearance: 28 and 29 September 2026
Asiphe, a final year teaching student with a bright future, was raped and murdered on 3 March 2024. Her mutilated body, burnt with acid, was discovered the next day by a herdsman at the Vlakkeland dumping site. The two suspects appeared in court on 8 December where the state indicated that the investigation has been finalised. The state plans on calling 12 witnesses, including a forensic pathologist and DNA analyst, to testify during the trial. The two cousins are charged with kidnapping, rape and murder. The case was postponed to 28 and 29 September 2026.
Chanelle Plaatjies: Missing, found murdered
Last appearance: 29 January 2026
Next appearance: 9 March 2026
Chanelle was last seen on 14 May 2025 and was reported missing on 28 May 2025. In the days that followed, Chanelle’s family and the broader Paarl East community launched a tireless search which led to a chilling discovery, a shallow grave near a dam. A female body, wrapped in a black bag, was found on 2 June 2025. Chanelle’s father began digging after a shoe was discovered, before police took over the scene. DNA results later confirmed what the family feared, the body was Chanelle’s. The case was heard on 29 January 2026 and was postponed to 9 March 2026, when it will be transferred to the High Court.
BELLVILLE MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Baby Mogamat, kidnapped at eight days old
Last appearance: 22 January 2026
Next appearance: 23 March 2026
Baby Mogamat’s mother, Imaan Sharmar, was befriended by the accused under two different names, first as Washeemah, a woman she met at a clinic before her baby’s birth, and later as Chevon, a supposed nurse from the “Zoey Project” who claimed to help young mothers. On 28 June 2025, during what she believed was a legitimate outing for a support programme, Imaan’s baby was abducted after she briefly stepped away. The child was recovered two days later in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, following swift police action.
On 22 January, the charges against the accused were clarified. The original charges were kidnapping and defeating the administration of justice. Additional charges of forgery, fraud and trafficking will be added at the regional court. The matter was postponed to 23 March for the determination of a regional court date.
CAPE TOWN REGIONAL COURT
Candice Robertson, murder disguised as suicide
Last appearance: 27 January 2026
Next appearance: 26 February and 2 March 2026
Candice died on 30 April 2022. Her partner claimed she had taken her own life, but forensic inconsistencies led to his arrest for murder. The case has suffered lengthy delays because the defence has not submitted required reports. On 27 January the case was postponed to 26 February and 2 March 2026 for further trial.
PRETORIA HIGH COURT
Charlene Pretorius, set on fire in front of her children
Last appearance: 26 January 2026
Next appearance: 11 May 2026
Charlene’s murder on 27 May 2023 shocked Pretoria. Having endured years of domestic abuse during her 16 year marriage, she had repeatedly sought protection from her husband, Stephan Pretorius, who threatened to shoot her and their children and violated multiple court protection orders. She filed for divorce and obtained her final protection order in February 2023. On that tragic day she was doused with petrol and set alight by her husband in front of their teenage daughter. He fled the scene, leaving her for dead. Although family rushed her to hospital, she succumbed to her injuries a few days later.
The matter was set to continue on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, but the case was postponed again because the toxicology report remained outstanding. The matter was then expected to continue on 2 and 6 February 2026 but unexpectedly continued on 26 January 2026. The defence had a medical crisis and there is still no clarity on the status of the toxicology report. The next court appearance is scheduled for 11 May 2026.
WYNBERG MAGISTRATES COURT
Nine year old Lavender, raped by parolee
Last appearance: 11 December 2025
Next appearance: 11 February 2026
A nine year old girl was brutally raped in Hanover Park in May 2025. The accused, who allegedly lured the child to his home, was out on parole after being convicted in 2008 of raping and indecently assaulting a 10 year old child. The case has fuelled calls for stricter parole conditions for violent offenders and the publication of the National Register of Sexual Offenders. The case appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court on 11 December 2025 where it was postponed to 11 February 2026 for trial.
BLUE DOWNS REGIONAL COURT
Janelle Laatoe and two others vs serial abuser
Last appearance: 5 February 2026
Next appearance: 18 March 2026
The man accused in this case is alleged to have preyed on multiple women during their relationships with him, including Janelle Laatoe. Her ordeal, along with that of two other women, has brought them together in their search for justice against a serial abuser. The case was set to continue on 5 February 2026, but the attorney was not present and the case was postponed to 18 March 2026.
JOHANNESBURG REGIONAL COURT
Viral child abuse case back in court
Last appearance: 28 January 2026
Next appearance: 11 February 2026
The three suspects, aged between 28 and 36, including the child’s biological mother and two adult males accused of child abuse, were back in court in November. The three appeared in a now viral and disturbing video circulating online, showing a young child being handed what appears to be Mandrax and encouraged to smoke it while adults laugh and watch to see if he stumbles around. The case was postponed on 28 January 2026 to 11 February 2026 for further investigation.
PROTEA COURT
Bakkie murderer to be sentenced soon
Last appearance: 5 February 2026
Next appearance: 26 March 2026
Nomasonto was an employee at the Randfontein Magistrate Court and had just finished her shift on 21 February 2024. She was walking across the street behind the court when a man driving a bakkie struck her. As seen on CCTV footage circulating online, the suspect was speeding directly toward Nomasonto and then reversed over her again after the initial impact. Her injuries were fatal. The accused pleaded guilty in November. Sentencing did not continue as planned on 5 February 2026 and is now scheduled for 26 March 2026.
PAROW REGIONAL COURT
Convicted killer of Suritha Alting back in court
Last appearance: 29 January 2026
Next appearance: 26 February 2026
Suritha was brutally stabbed on her way home from Bossa near her home in De Zicht during the early hours of a Saturday morning in November 2022. Her murderer, Xolani du Preez, was serving an 11 year sentence for the murder of the 28 year old. Before being transferred to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre, Du Preez was held at the Horizon Youth Correctional Centre in Faure, near Cape Town. This facility typically houses younger offenders and is managed by the Western Cape Government.
Following an assault on staff at the Horizon Centre, Du Preez and two other convicts were moved to Pollsmoor following a High Court order in July 2024 directing their continued incarceration there due to the seriousness of their crimes. Despite this, they were later wrongfully released after a court appearance as if they were remand detainees, not sentenced prisoners, an error Action Society is still challenging. Du Preez was later re arrested, not in connection with the escape, but for allegedly committing further crimes while unlawfully free. The court is now pursuing more convictions against Du Preez.
On 29 January 2026 Du Preez appeared in Parow Regional Court after a postponement in November 2025. This appearance was to determine whether he will serve the remainder of his murder sentence in Pollsmoor after completing his time at the Horizon Youth Correctional Centre. Despite attempts by the prosecutor, the probation report was not yet submitted. The new social worker and the probation officer will now be subpoenaed to appear in court on 26 February 2026.
