Latest news with #PrettyMahlangu
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Attorney of woman accused of killing Pretty Mahlangu says he advised her not to apologise immediately after the incident
JOHANNESBURG -The attorney of the woman accused of running over a crowd of girls and killing one of them said he advised his client not to reach out to apologise immediately after the incident. Kineil Muthray said it was too soon, and he did not want to further aggrieve the family. His client, 68-year-old Martha van der Walt, is facing charges of culpable homicide; she was released on R5,000 bail on Friday by the Germiston Magistrates Court. The Germiston Magistrates Court heard how the State still needed to get a post-mortem report and download the video footage which captured the incident. Pretty Mahlangu's family expressed disappointment when they saw the woman walk free, saying she had no remorse as she still had not apologised. READ: Attorney of woman accused of killing Pretty Mahlangu says they have different version of incident Muthray said that earlier in July, Van der Walt wanted to reach out to the family, but he advised her against it. "I advise that it's an open wound, it's really difficult and it's not going to feature very well if they are going to reach out to the family at this stage. I did request that the investigating officer facilitate this during the first matter that wasn't enrolled. He said that he would do that, but he also said it would be difficult." He added that the accused also wanted to help with financial support for the young girl's family.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Woman granted bail after fatal incident during traditional ceremony in Germiston
Pretty Mahlangu was killed after a car rammed into a group of teens during a traditional ceremony A woman, accused of knocking over a teenage girl during a traditional ceremony in Germiston last month, has been granted R5,000 bail. Martha van der Walt, 68, appeared in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Friday where she faced a charge of culpable homicide. Last month, Pretty Mahlangu, 13, was killed after a vehicle rammed through a group of teens taking part in a traditional coming-of-age ceremony.
News24
3 days ago
- News24
Woman accused of running girl over with her car at Zulu ceremony gets R5 000 bail
A 68-year-old woman accused of culpable homicide after running a 14-year-old girl over with her car during a traditional coming-of-age ceremony in Germiston, Gauteng, last month has been released on R5 000 bail. Martha van der Walt appeared in the Germiston Magistrate's Court after she handed herself over to police on Friday, accompanied by her lawyer, Kineil Muthray. Muthray told journalists Van der Walt was concerned about public perception and claims that she had deliberately run Pretty Mahlangu over. The lawyer also said it was unnecessary to have a warrant issued for Van der Walt's arrest. But the court heard that the warrant was issued after the initial case against Van der Walt was provisionally withdrawn, pending further investigation. Once investigations were completed, the matter was re-enrolled, resulting in the warrant. According to the Mahlangu family's spokesperson, Mzwandile Soyaya, the girls who were with Mahlangu at the coming-of-age ceremony, held for Nhlanhla Sithebe, 16, told him that, minutes before the incident, Van der Walt stopped her car near to them. 'She asked why [the girls] were partially dressed, with their breasts not covered. The girls replied they were celebrating their Zulu culture,' Soyaya said. Then she ran Mahlangu over. The case returns to court on 20 August.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Katlehong family still reeling from teen who died after 68-year-old woman rammed into crowd
JOHANNESBURG - A Katlehong family in Ekurhuleni is still reeling from the death of their 13-year-old child, who died at a traditional sweet 16 ceremony in Germiston after a local rammed into a crowd on the street. According to witnesses, a woman drove her car into a crowd of young girls, killing Pretty Mahlangu and injuring others. The teen was laid to rest on Sunday in Katlehong, but her family and community said they are still looking for answers. What was meant to be a day of celebrations turned tragic when the 13-year-old was run over by a car. The teen was part of a group of young maidens who were part of the traditional Sweet 16 ceremony known as Umhlonyane in the Zulu culture that was held in Germiston. It's alleged that a disgruntled neighbour of the hosting family took issue with what she allegedly labelled as revealing traditional Zulu attire. [WATCH] 'This seems like racism' - Katlehong residents still reeling after incident Simphiwe Khumalo, whose family was hosting the gathering, explained what happened next: 'So, three cars approached. We managed to turn back two of the cars, but then one of the cars went through the barricade and when she was approaching the kids, I jumped in front of the car trying to stop her.' She said that the woman proceeded to bump her and speed through the group of girls. 'She just drove straight into the crowd of children and ran over a child twice because when they were busy pushing each other in that stampede the kid lost balance when she fell. She drove over.' The family said they have not received confirmation on the suspect's arrest but were informed by police that a case of culpable homicide has been opened.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Eyewitness News
New warrant of arrest issued for Ekurhuleni driver accused of killing teen
JOHANNESBURG - A new warrant of arrest has been issued for a woman who drove her car into a crowd of young girls, killing a 13-year-old in Germiston, Ekurhuleni. Pretty Mahlangu died after she was run over during a sweet 16 traditional ceremony in June. The 68-year-old suspect was released from the Germiston police station on R5,000 station bail following her arrest earlier in July. Thirteen-year-old Pretty Mahlangu was part of a group of young maidens celebrating the traditional sweet 16 ceremony, known as umhlonyane in the Zulu culture. The host family said the driver of the car that ploughed into the group was a neighbour. READ: Katlehong family still reeling from teen who died after 68-year-old woman who rammed into crowd In CCTV footage of the incident, a car can be seen driving into the group. When EWN reported on the matter earlier this month, police had confirmed that a culpable homicide case was being investigated, following the arrest of the woman. But since then, the woman has not appeared before the court. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo: "The court gave instructions to the investigating officer to gather more information and evidence." He said the investigations were completed on Wednesday, and a new warrant of arrest has been issued.
