CAPE TOWN – A group of activists stood firm in solidarity opposing the bail application of a suspect allegedly connected to the murder of Shanice Rudolph (23) of Steenberg, at Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday morning 21 January
Grassy Park police registered a murder case following the discovery of a young woman’s body in a shallow grave at Klip Road Cemetery on Tuesday 9 December at approximately 13:10 last year.
The young woman had been reported missing by Steenberg police on 5 December, sparking a week-long search.
A 42-year-old male suspect was arrested in December and he appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court, SAPS confirmed.
People’s Post contacted Rudolph’s sister, Rushaan, who said that the bail hearing involved her sister’s murder.
More than 10 local residents, activists with a local non-profit organisation that staged a placard demonstration outside the court at 09:00 on the 21st.
Eric Ntabazalila, provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the accused, Bevan van Druten, faced a murder charge.
“The case has been postponed until Monday 26 January for his legal representative to come on board, for a full bail profile and a possible bail application,” he said.
The Steenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) also sent a letter to the NPA addressing its concerns on Monday 19 January.
In the letter the CPF said it, with the broader Steenberg community, placed on record their strong and unequivocal opposition to the granting of bail to the accused in the murder of Rudolph.
“This brutal and senseless act has not only taken the life of a young woman in the prime of her life but has also extinguished the life of her unborn child,” said Steenberg CPF chairperson, Grant Adams. “Two innocent lives have been lost through a violent and inhuman act that has deeply traumatised and angered our community.”
He added that granting bail in this matter would constitute a ‘travesty of justice’, embolden perpetrators of violent crime.
“It would further send a dangerous message that Gender Based Violence (GBV)-related crimes are not taken seriously by the NPA. We respectfully urge the prosecutor and the NPA to oppose bail in the strongest possible terms, in the interests of justice, community safety and the dignity of the victims.”
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