Action Society will support family and friends of Nadia Lotz who plans to gather at the Strand Magistrate’s court from 08:30 to #SayHerName as the man accused for her murder, Charles Appolis, is expected back in court tomorrow, 11 July 2023.
According to Kaylynn Palm, Action Society’s Action Centre coordinator, Lotz and Appolis had been together for fourteen years and had three children together, aged 1, 7 and 8 when she was brutally murdered.
“On the day of her murder, Appolis told their children that he was going to fetch Nadia from work. She was in the front passenger side and her friend was driving the car. He was sitting behind her in the vehicle and played her favourite song. He leaned forward and then stabbed her in the neck and slit her throat. Nadia opened the car door and jumped in an attempt to get away. She died on the sidewalk while her friend was forced to drive Nadia’s attacker to the police station.”
Palm says Nadia’s family wants justice. They had felt hopeless for years because Nadia was kept isolated from them and struggled to leave the abusive relationship because he “sweet talked” her back time and again, but things never got better. Instead, it got worse.
“Unfortunately this is a pattern we have observed time and again. Violence against women and children are increasing. Eleven women and three children are murdered every day. As a society, we need to take action. We need take action when we witness abuse in a relationship. We need to assist women to escape from abusive relationships. And I say escape, because they are indeed imprisoned in a relationship where they are so isolated emotionally, financially and even physically that they find it impossible to “just leave”.
Action Society’s #SayHerName campaign aims to create awareness about the realities of abuse against women and children. But more importantly, to get justice for those whose voices were taken away in the most brutal ways imaginable.
Timeline of events:
- 4 March 2023: Nadia Lotz (32) dies in a violent attack, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend of 14 years, and father of her children (1, 7 and 8).
- 7 March 2023: The accused appears in the Strand Magistrate’s court, but the case is postponed to 10 March 2023 for bail application.
- 10 March 2023: The accused abandons his bail application and the case is postponed to 12 April for further investigation.
- 12 April 2023: Case is postponed to 1 June 2023, pending Post Mortem results.
- 1 June 2023: Case is postponed to 12 June 2023.
- 12 June 2023: Case is postponed to 11 July 2023.
