Residents in Vrygrond have expressed frustration that the court hearing of a man suspected of murdering 10-year old Misholine Jantjies has been postponed for a third time in less than a month.

The accused is believed to have strangled and stabbed Jantjies to death at a local play park in late December. In a separate incident, he is also alleged to have attack the girl’s 15-year old cousin, stabbing him a reported 16 times. A case over the latter incident has never been opened.

Outraged by the attacks, Vrygrond residents have conducted a series of pickets at the Muizenberg Magistrates Court since the alleged perpetrator’s arrest, the most recent of which was held on Wednesday. They have sought to pressure the courts into denying the accused bail.

Lucinda Evans, chairperson of the Steenberg CPF and director of Philisa Abafazi Bethu, said the case was proving emotionally draining for the family of the victim, as well as the community at large.

“It is not the first time this perpetrator has done something hideous. Our message has been very clear, from my organisation’s perspective we are asking for no less than three life sentences. We are also demanding a speedy trial, because we cannot allow this person to come back into the Vrygrond/Capricorn community, or any community whatsoever,” she stressed.

Evans said the organisation was intentionally occupying the courts at each appearance to make the criminal justice system aware that the community were determined to take a zero-tolerance stance on accused child killers.

“We do not want him to go to Valkenberg for psychiatric evaluation because we feel there is nothing mentally wrong with him,” she further noted.

Apart from the organisations demands, Evans said they were also keen to see the trial redirected to the High Court.
The accused will make his next appearance on the 27th January. VOC