By Loushe Jordaan

Tempers flared in Eastridge in Mitchells Plain on Monday night as a group of residents gathered outside the home of 6 year old Stacey Adams to vent their frustrations regarding the child’s murder. However, things spiralled out of control as the angry crowd destroyed the wendy house where the girl’s lifeless body had been found. Residents say they came to support the family because they want justice for the little girl’s death.

A day after she had disappeared from her grandmother’s home in Eastridge, Stacey’s body was found buried in a shallow grave, next to a wendy house where she had lived with her 24 year old mother Sasha Lee Adams and her boyfriend. As police investigated the crime scene on Sunday, it became clear that Sasha Lee’s boyfriend was considered a suspect in the case, as he was believed to have seen the girl last.

Irate community members started gathering outside the home on Sunday to confront the suspect, who was then whisked away by police. A small group then torched the suspect’s sisters house (the main house on the property), wanting to avenge her death.

Residents congregated at the house again on Monday night as a show of outrage against the family and the police, accusing them of failing to protect the child.

“We are here to have a meeting to discuss a way forward. I have three children and I can’t imagine this happening to my child. We want justice to take its cause. Give Stacey’s killer to the community so that we can make an example of him,” said one resident from Tafelsig.

Speaking to a neighbour who discovered the body, he said he noticed suspicious activity happening in the backyard which led him to Stacey’s body.

“I saw him digging a hole. At first, I thought that he was releasing a stool but then he kept digging and eventually I went to see what was happening and that’s when I realize he was digging the hole for Stacey’s body,” said the man, who requested that he remain anonymous.

The weapon that was allegedly used to kill Stacey was found on the premises on Monday morning by police.

But, residents asserted that if it was not for the persistence of a resident, police officers would not have found the weapon.

“I found the panga under the wendy house. I searched [and] i knew the weapon has to be somewhere on the property. I then showed the police that the panga was under the wendy house. [The police] could not even find the weapon – now how can we rely on them,” the resident who located the weapon stated.

The frustrated and angry group later destroyed the wendy house, using bricks and hammers to break down the structure. Stacey’s mother left the premises after she was allegedly threatened by residents.

Controversial activist group Gatvol Capetonian has called a community meeting to discuss the social ills in Mitchells Plain. The meeting will take place at Beacon Hill High School in Mitchel’s Plain at 10am on Saturday.

Gatvol spokesperson Fadiel Adams spoke to VOC News about the community’s feelings

(Warning: Offensive language)

The suspect who allegedly confessed to murdering Stacey Adams is set to appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate Court on Wednesday, where community members have promised to protest outside. VOC