Family members and residents outside the Germiston Magistrate's Court where Martha van Der Walt appeared for culpable homicide.
Thato Gololo/News24
Martha van der Walt appeared at Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday,where her culpable homicide case was postponed to 26 September for further investigations.The family of 15-year-old Pretty Mahlangu,who was allegedly run over by Van Der Walt during a traditional Zulu coming-of-age ceremony,wants the charge upgraded to murder and is seeking an apology.The family alleges racial motivation for Van der Walt’s actions,but no evidence of this has emerged in court as yet. Frustration boiled over as the culpable homicide case against Martha van der Walt,accused of running over 15-year-old Pretty Mahlangu with her car during a Zulu cultural ceremony,was postponed in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Mahlangu’s family,demanding a charge upgrade to murder,expressed anger over delays,while investigations continue.
Van der Walt,68,is accused of driving over and killing Mahlangu during a traditional Zulu coming-of-age cultural ceremony in Germiston.
Prosecutor Verushka Vallabh cited outstanding evidence for a further postponement to 26 September.
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“This was [previously] postponed for further investigations,and investigations are not complete. Outstanding is the photo album and possibly video footage,” Vallabh told the court.
Mahlangu’s family were not satisfied with the outcome of the proceedings.
“I’m angry. We are looking for the charge to be changed from culpable homicide to murder. That’s the justice I am looking for,” said family spokesperson Mzwandile Soyaya.
He had hoped that the prosecution would have received all outstanding evidence since the previous appearance in July. Yet he was told that the investigating officer had only received the post-mortem of the body this last week despite the mortuary saying it had been handed over before then.
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READ | Woman accused of running girl over with her car at Zulu ceremony gets R5 000 bailThe incident occurred during a coming-of-age ceremony Mahlangu was attending.
Outside of the courtroom,Ndunankulu Dlamini from the Amantungwa Royal Kingdom,a family member and traditional leader in the area,accused Van der Walt of racist behaviour as they had circulated a notice on community platforms that the street would be closed for the celebrations.
“This woman must be charged for murder,not culpable homicide. She intentionally killed this child. If it wasn’t intentional,she would have avoided the street. She would have done according to the announcement,” he alleged.
However,no evidence of racial motivation has emerged in court proceedings as yet.
A video that News24 has seen shows the accused’s alleged vehicle approaching the group of girls wearing traditional attire slowly before driving through the crowd,which scattered as the car sped away.
About 50 family members and residents gathered outside the court holding posters,banners and placards demanding justice for Mahlangu,who was driven over and killed.
Van der Walt appeared wearing a white beanie,black scarf,glasses,and a mask,completely covering her face and nearly obscuring her identity.
Soyaya said Van der Walt’s daughter had requested that the two families meet.
“They have a message they would like to convey from the Van der Walt family to the Mahlangu family.”
Beyond the charge being upgraded to murder,the Mahlangu family is seeking an apology.
Soyaya said:
Justice for us is for the charge to be changed. And for her to have it in her heart to come back and speak to the Mahlangu family and say ‘I am sorry’.
News24 previously reported that Van der Walt had turned herself in to the Germiston police station. She was then taken to the Germiston Magistrate’s Court and granted R5 000 bail.
The family is hoping the matter will be transferred to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court to allow more residents to attend proceedings.
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