Several hundred protesters dressed in pink tops and jeans in sympathy with the family of murdered seven-year-old Sheldean Human dispersed peacefully from outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
A petition for the reinstatement of the death penalty was signed by most of the supporters before they dispersed.
Sheldean, who was found murdered in the city this week, was dressed in a pink top and jeans when she went missing on February 18.
Earlier in the day, the case of the man suspected of murdering the girl was postponed in the court. Andrew Jordaan (25), who had no lawyer, will apply for one at the Legal Aid Board and appear again on March 16.
Spectators who packed the court to capacity showed signs of disappointment after Jordan left the dock. ”You bastard,” whispered one man.
Jordaan had six police officers surrounding him in the dock for protection. Clean-shaven and wearing a faded blue shirt, he looked calm as he left for the holding cell.
As he was driven away, many of the crowd that had been there since early in the morning chased the car as far as they could, shouting: ”Maak hom dood [Kill him]!” Jordaan could not be seen through the windows of the car as he kept low to avoid the angry taunts of the protesters.
Packed courtroom
The courtroom where he appeared was crowded with reporters and the public jostling for position. Those who could not get inside flocked to the doors of the courtroom for a peek through window panes in the doors as proceedings got under way. Many expressed emotions that were a mixture of excitement and sadness. After a quick view, many protesters were in tears.
Placards among the crowd outside the court called for the death penalty. One read: ”Gee hom doodstraf of vir die publiek [Give him the death penalty or give him to the public].” Dangling from the placard were a pink shirt and a pair of denim pants. Other placards displayed hangman’s nooses.
The majority of the crowd was white Afrikaans speakers, although a vocal black contingent toyi-toyied and sang the national anthem and African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma’s trademark song Umshini wami.
Professional athlete and Olympic medallist Llewellyn Herbert joined the call for reinstating the death penalty. Also wearing a pink shirt and jeans, he said: ”We are sick and tired of crime. The death penalty should definitely come back.”
The pink-top-and-jeans protest was arranged by an anti-child-crime non-profit organisation, the Pink Ladies. Musicians and sports celebrities laid flowers in memory of Sheldean during the gathering to protest against children being victims of crime.
Rugby stars, musicians attend
The noisy protest turned quiet and sombre for a moment as AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel addressed the crowd and introduced rugby players Richard Bands, Jannie Brooks and Willem Strauss. Together with musicians Mel Botes, Adam Tas, Elizma Theron and MD Greyling, they also laid roses.
Pikkie van Amstel, the headmaster of Laerskool Tuinrand, called on people to give their children safety and freedom. ”When you go home, take hands together, mother and father, and go to church on Sunday. That is where children’s happiness begins.” He said children need to play, walk barefoot and be happy.
Speaking to the South African Press Association after Jordaan’s appearance, Dirk Herman, deputy general secretary of Solidarity, said: ”Domestic abuse crimes deserve harsh penalties. What made people so emotional was that the family knew the man accused of the crime. Communities in poorer areas are so much more vulnerable to this sort of thing.
”People live communally. The mother and father often both work and there may be any number of family [members] living in a home.”
Herman said Solidarity will soon launch a 365-day campaign against violence committed against children. ”You can have sensors and alarms, but they can’t protect children against family and friends.”