Families of murder victims seek closure

Mogwase/ Mooinooi/ Rustenburg – One of the men implicated in the murder of Joey and Anisha van Niekerk fell ill in court while the judgement related to another killing, in which he is also a suspect, was being read out.

Proceedings at the Mogwase Magistrates’ Court had to be delayed for two successive days in June after James Aaron Sithole, who is also due to stand trial for the murder of Joey and Anisha on 11 August, became ill.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson for the North West Henry Mamothame told Platinum Weekly that Sithole became ill as the magistrate was reading out the judgement of the 2014 murder of Amanda 'Mandie' Mey.

“On Monday 29 June, the court had to be adjourned at approximately 15:30 when the accused indicated he was not feeling well,” Mamothame said. “The following day, judgement proceeded but was thrice interrupted after the accused fell ill again and vomited. The matter will be finalised on 20 July.”

Sithole allegedly murdered Mey in Rustenburg in 2014.

In 2017, Sithole was allegedly also involved in an incident in which Joey and Anisha were kidnapped, raped and killed before their bodies were soaked in acid and burned beyond recognition.

Joey and Anisha had initially been reported missing on 10 December 2017. However, the gruesome crime only came to light six days later after the burned-out shell of the couple’s vehicle was found in the Magaliesburg area.

Initially, eight individuals were arrested in connection with the murder of Joey and Anisha but three have since turned state witnesses. One state witness, Wilhelm Loubser, died in a motorcycle accident on 3 November 2018. During September 2019, Koos Strydom, the alleged ‘mastermind’ behind the murder of the three women, was found unconscious in his cell and was transported to hospital where he was declared braindead.

A dispute about the properties belonging to the three victims was reportedly at the centre of the killings. The families of all the victims have been following the two court proceedings and are hoping for closure.