Action Society continued their hard work in 2024 as the year finally reached its final month. We have enjoyed many successes in our cases this year and we hope to carry this momentum with us into 2025. However, countless families will face another Christmas without justice for their loved ones and that keeps us committed to continue on our course to push the wheels of justice ahead one step at a time.
GEORGE REGIONAL COURT
Sive Toto: Beaten and bound to a wheelchair
Action Society is extremely disappointed with the extreme delay of justice in the case of Sivenathi Toto. Her case has been postponed to 18 July 2025. Sivenathi was so severely beaten in August 2022 that she suffered brain damage and a stroke that has left her bound to a wheelchair and unable to communicate. Action Society is overseeing her case and will not rest until there is some justice. It is unacceptable that this case will be near its third year when the accused next appears in court.
PRETORIA HIGH COURT
Bathabile Maria Mnguni: Mutilated and murdered by husband
Maria allegedly had her throat slit by her husband who then proceeded to cut and mutilate her face before stabbing her to death in front of her 10-year-old daughter on 1 January 2024. He then locked her body up in their bedroom along with the frightened young girl. He threatened the girl that he would kill her as well if she dared call for help or made any noises. The matter was heard in court on 8 October 2024 and was postponed to be heard in the Pretoria High Court on December 3, 2024.
WYNBERG MAGISTRATES COURT
Charlene Josephs: Kidnapped and murdered
On 10 July 2024, a group of masked gunmen entered Charlene’s home in Lavender Hill after her power suddenly shut off while she was watching television. In the sheer and sudden darkness, they forcefully dragged her out of her house at gunpoint and got into a car and fled. Charlene’s body was found on 19 August 2024 in a deserted area behind the Muizenberg landfill site, riddled with stab wounds. The matter was heard in court on 15 November 2024 and was postponed to 13 December 2024 after complications at the court.
PAARL REGIONAL COURT
Cecilly Loock: Contravening a protection order
Cecily Loock’s husband has shown a pattern of verbally abusing her. His temper came to a boiling point when he destroyed her phone after an altercation after which she obtained a protection order against him. He contravened the protection order and the matter has been postponed to 13, 14 and 17 January 2025 for witnesses to testify.
MITCHELL PLAIN MAGISTRATES COURT
Iris: Raped by mother’s ex-husband
Action Society was approached by the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was being raped by the mother’s ex-husband from a very young age. He allegedly raped her while he was giving her a bath. The matter was heard in court on 20 November 2024 and has been postponed to 12 December 2024 due to the prosecutor being ill.
Lekesha Marthinus: Killed after a beer bottle was thrown at her head
Action Society is pleased that the murder case of Lekeasha Marthinus is back on the court roll after it was temporarily withdrawn due to an outstanding post-mortem report. She was killed on 5 November 2022 by her boyfriend, who fatally threw a beer bottle at her head. At the time of her murder, she was holding her then nine-month-old baby. The matter was heard in court on 22 November 2024 and postponed to 10 December 2024 for the accused to consult with his attorney.
PAROW REGIONAL COURT
Granny Azalea*: Elderly woman assaulted by family member
A house in Langa in Cape Town became another scene of terrible elder abuse at the hands of a close family member who ransacked her home and verbally threatened to kill her. Action Society received a mandate to defend her cause in the courts. The grandson was arrested on 12 July 2024 and appeared before the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court. The matter was heard again in court on 5 November, where his bail of R500 was paid. Although the victim decided to withdraw the case, the Senior Public Prosecutor decided not to drop the charges against the accused. The matter was heard in court on 20 November 2024 and has been postponed to 13 February 2025 for plea and trial.
PAARL MAGISTRATES COURT
Marigold: Raped by father’s cousin:
Action Society is conducting oversight in the sexual assault case of Marigold, a six-year-old girl from Gauteng. According to Marigold’s mother, she was raped by her father’s cousin in June last year during a visit to the father’s house. The matter was heard in court on 27 November 2024 and was postponed to 6 May 2025.
VREDENDAL MAGISTRATES COURT
Nadine Klaase: Strangled in her bed
Nadine Klaase was strangled to death in her bed in Vredendal North on 6 October, 2023. The suspected killer was her boyfriend at the time, and he was arrested the night her body was discovered. Her body was found with multiple scratches on her skin, she had a bloodied nose, and a shoelace was tied around her neck. The matter was heard in court on 27 November 2024 and was postponed to 24 February 2025 for the accused to consult with his lawyer .
KHAYELITSHA REGIONAL COURT
Thimna Kuze: Found dead in a shack
The murder case of Thimna Kuze continued in November 2024. Thimna, a 13-year-old girl from Khayelitsha, was murdered on 25 March 2023, and her family is still waiting for justice. The young girl slept over at a friend’s house and was found dead a day later in a shack with blood in her nose, mouth and groin area. The case was postponed once again to 21 January 2025 after the defence said he wants a representative who can speak Xhosa. Action Society believes he is deliberately abusing the court system to postpone the case and buy himself time.
ALEXANDRA MAGISTRATES COURT
Didi Lekganyane: Murdered by her husband
Didi Lekganyane, a 32-year-old from Johannesburg was stabbed to death by her husband in their home in July 2024. There was a history of abuse in their relationship. The matter was heard in court on 29 November 2024 and was postponed to 11 February 2025 for further investigation.
KUILSRIVIER MAGISTRATES COURT
Granny Clover: Raped by grandson
A 71-year-old woman from Strand was raped by her grandson on 13 August. The lady died on 3 September 2024 apparently from natural causes. The suspect, a 27 year old man has opted to abandon his bail application and will remain in custody to face a charge of rape. The matter appeared in court on 28 November 2024 and was postponed to 13 January 2025 for further particulars.
ATLANTIS MAGISTRATES COURT
Joshlin Marthinus: Killed by ex-boyfriend
Action Society has been mandated to assist the family of Joshlin Marthinus, a 27-year-old mother who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in September 2024 in Atlantis in the Western Cape. The accused appeared at the Atlantis Magistrates Court on December 2 2024 and was postponed to 3 March 2025 for further investigation.
