Jannie du Plessis
VANDERBIJLPARK. – After little Amy’Leigh de Jager’s (6) abduction two weeks ago, she was detained just outside Vanderbijpark in Rosashof-kleinhoewes before being let go. Now the tables have turned; her abductors are being detained and Amy’Leigh’s abduction drama has seized the entire country’s attention.
Amy’Leigh was snatched from her mother’s arms in front of the school. Making things worse, one of the abductors was a well-known family friend and teacher at Kollegepark Primary School, who has been suspended in the meanwhile.
Tharina Human (27), allegedly the mastermind behind the abduction, Laetitia Nel (40) and Pieter van Zyl (50) was taken into custody last week and appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate Court last Monday, 9 September.
The court halls were buzzing with people and media personnel, eager to join the court hearing. The court itself was filled to the brim and additional chairs had to be carried in. The accused three will be detained until Thursday, 19 September, when a formal bail application will be submitted to Magistrate Hussein Khota.
The media was requested to wait outside before the case was presented as Magistrate Khota wanted to attend to and postpone other cases. Magistrate Khota also had to decide whether the media would be allowed to take photos and videos during the court case.
After the journalists completed application forms, Willem de Klerk (Netwerk24’s attorney) agreed that he will negotiate with the state and the accused’s attorneys on behalf of the other media houses regarding access to the court and when and what photos or videos may be taken.
Approximately thirty journalists and media members from various large media houses like Netwerk 24, Huisgenoot, Eyewitness News and many more, was permitted to enter the court just before 12:00.
An agreement was finally reached that pictures may be taken just before and after the court proceedings.
The Gauteng LUR for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who also attended the court case, approached Amy’Leigh’s parents, greeting them and discussing the court proceedings with them.
The father, Wynand, and mother, Angeline, sat in the front of the court and the mother cried against her husbands’ shoulder as her former friend, Human, walked past her. According to rumours, their friendship went sour about two months ago.
Human was seated in the accused dock with a blank emotionless stare.
Jaco van Heerden appeared on behalf of Human and Stoffel Venter on behalf of Nel. Van Zyl is represented by Lungelo Chirwa, while Luanda Nqcobo is the prosecutor on behalf of the state.
TRANSLATION: CARINA BOOYSEN (VAALWEEKBLAD)
VIDEO: JANNIE DU PLESSIS (VAALWEEKBLAD)
PHOTO GALLERY: JANNIE DU PLESSIS (VAALWEEKBLAD)
