Parliament, Tuesday, 22 October 2023 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Police, Mr Ian Cameron, has suggested that the resumption of the murder trial against Daniel Smit, accused of murdering 13-year-old Jerobejin van Wyk in Klawer, presents the courts with an opportunity to set a clear example that murder and taking the law into one’s own hands cannot be tolerated.
“The gruesome killing of Jerobejin van Wyk has left an indelible wound on the community of Klawer and is a constant reminder of the huge challenge the country faces with the increasing murder rate. We hope the courts will use this opportunity to send a stern massage that such kinds of barbaric acts have no place in a democratic South Africa,” Mr Cameron suggested.
The Chairperson highlighted the concern that the case has not been finalised despite the murder having occurred in 2022. “While we have full confidence in our courts, such an opportunity to send a murderer who killed and tried to conceal his actions to jail for a lifetime cannot be missed,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron highlighted that the case has amplified the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands. “The country has experienced an increase in vigilantes, who are inherently unhelpful in creating a safe and secure communities,” Mr Cameron said. The South African Police Service has a responsibility to investigate and ensure prosecution of any crime and this responsibility has to be left to them.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson welcomed the life imprisonment of two former Clover employees for the murders of Terence Tegg and JJ Cassanga handed down by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. “The life sentences represent justice for the Tegg and Cassanga families. Such sentences should act as deterrence against criminality,” Mr Cameron said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON.
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