Latest news with #ActionSociety
IOL News
02-07-2025
- IOL News
Chanelle Plaatjies murder: Suspects abandon bail bid amid ongoing investigation
The distraught Plaatjies' family previously asked for the police not to drag the case as they did with the slain 4-year-old Mia Botha's case. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The three men accused of murdering 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies have abandoned their bail application and will remain in custody until their next court appearance. Keaton Johnson, 19, Bradley Mamani, 25, and Theodore Qatha, 31, appeared in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Tuesday facing charges relating to the brutal murder of the teenage girl from Paarl East. They first appeared in court on June 20. Johnson was reportedly the teenager's boyfriend. Plaatjies went missing on May 14. After a desperate two-week search by her family and community, human remains were discovered in a wooded area about a kilometre from her home, but DNA tests had to confirm it was her body that was dug out of the shallow grave. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk said: "Be advised that the DNA results were received and confirmed that the body of a female discovered buried in the woods in Paarl East near to prison is indeed 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies." Chanelle Plaatjies Image: Facebook According to the charge sheet, the accused are charged with premeditated murder. The State alleges that 'the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Chanelle by strangling her and burying her body in a shallow grave'. The charge falls under Part I of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, which deals with aggravated forms of murder, including killings committed as part of a group, conspiracy, or with premeditation. As such, if convicted, the accused face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Action Society spokesperson, Kaylynn Palm, who was present at court on Tuesday, confirmed that one of the accused had initially considered applying for bail but later withdrew the application. All three ultimately abandoned their bids and remain in custody. 'Action Society is at Paarl Magistrate's Court for the murder case of Chanelle Plaatjies. Three people were arrested, including the boyfriend, and they appeared in court. On Tuesday, all of them abandoned their bail,' said Palm. She added that the State informed the court that several investigative reports were still outstanding. 'According to the State, outstanding items include the DNA report, soil analysis, and toxicology report,' Palm said. She also noted that the accused alleged mistreatment while in custody. 'They complained that they were roughed up by the wardens and were apparently injured, but they didn't produce any evidence of that.' Palm said Action Society will keep an eye on the future court proceedings. The matter has been postponed to August 1, 2025, for further investigation. Plaatjies' family previously asked for the police not to drag the case as they did with the slain 4-year-old Mia Botha's case. "We would like to request that the police keep the investigating officer and not hand the case over to other officers, as they did with the Mia case. The detective was very good and thorough when my sister went missing. "We don't want to find ourselves years from now asking questions about Chanelle's cold case. This is our only request to the police." Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
01-07-2025
- IOL News
Suspects in Chanelle Plaatjies murder case abandon bail application
Chanelle Plaatjies' body was found buried in a shallow grave. Image: Facebook The three men accused of murdering 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies have abandoned their bail application and will remain in custody until their next court appearance. Keaton Johnson, 19, Bradley Mamani, 25, and Theodore Qatha, 31, appeared in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, facing charges relating to the brutal murder of the teenage girl from Paarl East. Johnson was reportedly the teenager's boyfriend. Plaatjies went missing on May 14, 2025. After a desperate two-week search by her family and community, her remains were discovered in a wooded area about a kilometre from her home. Her body had been buried in a shallow grave. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading According to the charge sheet, the accused are charged with premeditated murder. The State alleges that 'the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Chanelle by strangling her and burying her body in a shallow grave'. The charge falls under Part I of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, which deals with aggravated forms of murder, including killings committed as part of a group, conspiracy, or with premeditation. As such, if convicted, the accused face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Action Society spokesperson Kaylynn Palm, who was present at court on Tuesday, confirmed that one of the accused had initially considered applying for bail but later withdrew the application. All three ultimately abandoned their bids and remain in custody. 'Action Society is at Paarl Magistrate's Court today for the murder case of Chanelle Plaatjies. Three people were arrested, including the boyfriend, and they appeared in court. On Tuesday, all of them abandoned their bail,' said Palm.
IOL News
07-06-2025
- IOL News
Outrage as Marius van der Westhuizen seeks parole for child murders
Former police officer Marius van der Westhuizen has applied for parole after serving more than a decade for the murder of his three children. Image: File Civil rights organisation, Action Society, has condemned the renewed parole application by a former police officer who murdered his three children in 2006, calling it a 'disgraceful affront to justice'. The organisation said the latest attempt to seek early release is retraumatising for the victims' family and deeply offensive to the broader public, many of whom remain haunted by the brutality of the crime. Marius van der Westhuizen was convicted of the premeditated murders of his children, Bianca, 16, Marius Jr, 5, and Antoinette, 21 months, at their Brackenfell, Western Cape, home on July 28, 2006. The killings, carried out in front of his then-wife, Charlotte, were reportedly sparked by jealousy and emotional turmoil. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Despite citing stress and depression, the court ruled that his actions were calculated and intentional. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and has applied for parole three times. His third attempt was briefly successful in June 2024, when the parole board cited his rehabilitation efforts and acceptance of responsibility. The decision sparked widespread public backlash and was overturned by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board just weeks later. 'The fact that Van der Westhuizen is once again seeking legal leniency is disgraceful. He murdered three innocent children. His place is behind bars, not back in society,' said Kaylynn Palm, Action Society spokesperson. Charlotte van der Westhuizen, now a lieutenant-colonel in the SAPS, has previously welcomed the revocation of her ex-husband's parole. 'I am extremely grateful for the positive outcome that we received, especially seeing that we are also celebrating Women's Month. I feel that justice has prevailed,' she said at the time. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that the parole board's original decision had been overturned in terms of Section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act. Van der Westhuizen remains incarcerated at Malmesbury Prison. Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald also supported the decision to revoke parole, saying it highlights the urgent need to review the parole system. 'Reforming our parole system is not just a policy issue, but a moral imperative. We must ensure that it protects the most vulnerable and does not re-victimise those already harmed,' he said. Action Society has reiterated its call for justice and urged the Department of Correctional Services to reject any further attempts by Van der Westhuizen to gain early release. 'This is not just an administrative issue — it is about upholding the value of life and protecting those who cannot protect themselves,' said Palm. 'We owe it to the victims to ensure that justice is not eroded by leniency.'
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- The Citizen
Parolee with two names identified after allegedly raping nine-year-old
The accused had been out on parole after serving over 15 years in Voorberg Correctional Centre under the surname Booi. A man accused of raping a nine-year-old in Hanover Park made his second appearance in court on Friday. The 51-year-old had caused confusion following his arrest earlier this month as he had recently been released from prison where he went by a different name. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) have since clarified the man's identity, with a civil rights non-profit stressing the need for the National Register of Sexual Offenders (NRSO) to be made public. Williams or Booi Igshaan Williams was arrested earlier in May, just six months after being released on parole in November. At his first court appearance on 16 May, the man identified himself as Williams, but DCS have confirmed that he served over 15 years in prison under a different name. 'DCS records identify him as Isaac Booi. Community Corrections officials have since verified his identity and confirmed that he is indeed a parolee currently under the supervision of the Cape Town Community Corrections office,' stated the department. Booi was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2008 for rape and indecent assault, and was due to serve parole until 2044. 'These developments are gravely concerning. The department has launched an internal investigation to review and assess the effectiveness of monitoring measures applied during his parole period,' the department stated. R20 to buy milk Booi is now accused of raping a nine-year-old who went missing while walking to school on 13 May. The accused is alleged to have lured the girl by offering her R20 to buy him milk and return the item to his house. A community search party found the girl at Booi's residence, where she is believed to have spent at least five hours. 'His case has been postponed until 25 July for further investigation. His parole has been revoked, meaning he will not apply for bail. At the next appearance, he will appear on Audio Visual Remand,' confirmed Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. 'Make the NRSO public' Action Society stated the need to revisit the parole system and make the NRSO public 'We have a serious problem in this country with parolees being released back into communities only to victimise more women and children,' said Action Society spokesperson Kaylynnn Palm. 'Situations like this can be prevented in the future if we make the NRSO public. If we know the people living in our midst, we can be more vigilant and protect our loved ones,' Palm concluded. NOW READ: How big is the national sex offenders list? Maimane's Bosa says it could reach over 40,000
The Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Action Society angered by internal inquiry clearing VIP cops
Civil rights watchdog Action Society wants a review of the police's internal accountability processes after eight VIP protection unit officers were cleared of wrongdoing in a disciplinary hearing concluded earlier this week. The officers, filmed in an altercation with civilians on the N1 highway in July 2023, were members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's protection detail. Ulrich Roux, legal representative for three of the civilians, told CapeTalk his clients are disappointed with the outcome but have not been deterred from pursuing criminal and civil charges. 'The onus of proof is completely different in a criminal matter as well as in civil litigation in the high court,' he said. Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for the SA Police Union which represented the officers in the internal process, told radio presenter Lester Kiewit they were subjected to the correct disciplinary process, and the chairperson acquitted them after hearing all the information. He said it would be unfair for public pressure to determine the outcome of internal processes.
