MITCHELLS PLAIN MAGISTRATES COURT
*Orchid: Raped teenager
Orchid*, a teenager who survived a horrific rape more than a year ago, is closer to closure after her rapist was found guilty on 26 March 2024. Action Society has been supporting Orchid since her rape by a teenage boy and it has been an uphill battle ever since to get justice. The case was postponed to 25 April 2024 for sentencing. We will keep on fighting with the young girl and her family until her rapist is behind bars.
Sam Erasmus: Almost killed in a deliberate crash and contravention of a protection order
Action Society has been mandated to help with the investigation in the case of Samantha Erasmus. The 33-year-old found herself on the receiving end of her ex-partner’s rage when he deliberately crashed the car they were travelling in, following an altercation. The incident left her face badly disfigured. The matter of contravening a protection order was heard on 19 March 2024 and the case was postponed to 6 May 2024.
Firdous Kleinschmidt: Killed by a stray bullet
Action Society attended the case against the accused who killed a 13-year-old girl from Mitchells Plain on January 31 2024. She died after being hit by a stray bullet during a shooting as she was awaiting transport at her school. The case was heard on 28 March 2024 where the accused abandoned bail and the case was postponed to 28 June 2024.
PAARL MAGISTRATES COURT
*Violet: Raped by uncle
Action Society supported Violet*, a teenager who was raped by her uncle in 2019 in court on 27 March 2024. This case has been particularly frustrating and has been postponed at least 12 times. The frustration continued with another postponement to 16 April 2024.
KHAYELITSHA MAGISTRATES COURT
Nosiphiwo James: Stabbed to death
The case against Nosiphiwo James’ boyfriend continued on 27 March 2024. Nosiphiwo was stabbed to death by her boyfriend using a screwdriver in Khayelitsha on 8 May 2022, moments before a mass shooting broke out, killing six men. When the police found her body amongst the six men, it was clear that she wasn’t one of the shooting victims. Her boyfriend was nowhere to be found. He had assaulted her several times before, and her family reported he was extremely jealous. The matter was postponed to 8 May 2024.
CAPE TOWN REGIONAL COURT
Candice Robertson: Made her death look like a suicide
The case against Candice Robertson’s partner, who killed her and tried to make her murder look like a suicide on 30 April, 2022, continued on 29 March 2024. According to reports, her killer allegedly called the owner of the guest house they were staying and reported that Robertson seemed to have committed suicide in the room. However, when authorities and medics arrived at the scene, there were doubts about what had happened, and he was arrested. The matter was postponed to 18 April 2024.
PRETORIA NORTH MAGISTRATE’S COURT
Charlene Pretorius: Set alight in front of her children
A man from Pretoria North who set his wife, 42-year-old Charlene Pretorius, alight in front of their teenage daughter on 27 May 2023 appeared in court on 28 March 2024. He watched Charlene burn before fleeing the scene while his parents and sister rushed her to hospital. The case was postponed to 1 April 2024 for the post-mortem report to be released.
STRAND REGIONAL COURT
Nadia Lotz: Stabbed in the neck
It has been more than a year since Nadia Lotz, a mother of three, was stabbed in the neck by her partner of 13 years, Charles Appolis. The two were passengers in Nadia’s friend’s car when Appolis played their favourite song and suddenly stabbed Nadia in the neck and slit her throat. Nadia attempted to escape by jumping from the moving car, but died on the sidewalk. Appolis appeared in court on 3 April 2024. The case was postponed to 15 April for consultation.
PAARL MAGISTRATES COURT
Asiphe Cetywayo: Body found in a dumping site
Asiphe’s mutilated body was found by herdsman at the Vlakkeland dumping site on Monday, March 4, 2024. She was raped and murdered the previous day and her body was severely burnt with acid. The local community gathered outside the Mbekweni Police station, demanding answers regarding the investigation into her brutal murder. The case against the man accused of the horrific murder was heard on 5 April postponed to 12 April for a bail application.