PORT ELIZABETH, December 2(ANA) – The mother of a two-year-old girl who was killed in a gang crossfire isnow “living in fear” after receiving death threats from known gangsters in PortElizabeth’s Northern Areas.
“Heads are going to roll” were the words passed on to DavideneRuiters on Friday while the two men charged with the murder of her child,Caydene, stood trial in the Port Elizabeth High Court.
On Friday, Judge Onika Van Papendorp, together with ProsecutorJason Thysse, defence lawyers and both accused, Marcus Malgas, 25, and Gregoryvan Staden,30, visited the crime scene in Barcelona, Helenvale, for Statewitness Craig Morgan to illustrate where shots were allegedly fired from.
Caydene was in front of a house with her mother, sister and fourmen when a stray bullet hit her in the chest during December last year. Thegirl was taken to Livingstone hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival.
The men charged with the toddler’s murder are apparently leadersin a notorious gang, “Sestien Honde” (Sixteen Dogs), and have pleaded notguilty to 11 charges which include murder, attempted murder and unlawfulpossession of firearm and ammunition.
A frantic Davidene Ruiters told African News Agency (ANA) thatduring the crime scene visit on Friday they had received a message that Statewitnesses would be “taken out”.
“I don’t know what to do, all of us are in a state, we are notgangsters, we don’t communicate with gangsters, my baby was innocent and shewas shot. I don’t know why they want to take us out. I’m going through hell asit is and now this. I can’t take it anymore.”
Davidene slammed politicians from the Democratic Alliance (DA),including leader Mmusi Maimane and Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Athol Trollip, aswell as members from the African National Congress (ANC) who visited her homelast year when her daughter was killed.
“When my baby was shot they were there, it was maybe forpublicity, but now when we need them the most, there’s no one supporting us. Iwas already living in fear, I knew this case would be in God’s hands but thesedeath threats … what am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to feel?” sheasked.
The distraught mother said that she was scared to return homeand the death threats extended to her boyfriend Ricardo Windvogel, her 16-yearold daughter Tamlynn, Juwayne Camfer who testified earlier this week, as wellas Morgan who was at the crime scene visit on Friday.
“”We don’t want to go back to the house, who knows what they aregoing to do to us, these people have guns, they are gangsters from the SestienHonde,” she said.
A man who did not want to be identified out of fear told ANAthat he was disappointed with the DA even though he was a “proud DA supporter”,wearing a bright blue party t-shirt.
“They were just there for the press, even the now Mayor [AtholTrollip] and the councillor Pieter Hermans, they did their work for the votesbut now if you want to see them you must make an appointment. I’m going to haveto look over my shoulder after we received these death threats from a gangleader’s cousin,” he said.
Meanwhile, back in the court room, Morgan recalled the eventsleading up to the toddler’s death. He said he started to run when he saw bothMalgas and Van Staden with guns approaching the group.
Police earlier said that Malgas was linked to two othershootings in Gelvandale, with the charges relating to murder and attemptedmurder.
The State alleges the two armed men arrived on foot and randomlyfired numerous shots at the group of people.
Earlier this week, a witness testified that Eon Daries, who isaffiliated with a rival gang, the Gazas, was present in the group, giving hisexplanation as to why the shooting took place.
The trial continues on Monday.
– African News Agency (ANA)
