Calls for bail to be denied to those accused of murdering Paarl teenager Chanelle Plaatjies are mounting.
This as the murder case returns to the local magistrates’ court tomorrow, where one of three suspects is set to have a bail hearing.
@actionsocietysa The pain outside the Paarl Magistrates Court today was palpable as family, friends, and community members gathered to demand justice for 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies. Her life was stolen. Her body discarded. But her voice echoes in the cries of those who refuse to let her be forgotten. The case continues on 1 July. Action Society will continue to support Chanelle’s family and keep a close eye on this case until justice is served. #ActionSociety #ChanellePlaatjies #crime #justicesystem
The 16-year-old girl went missing last month, and her lifeless body was later found in a shallow grave near a dam. Her former boyfriend is one of the three murder-accused. Two of the suspects have since abandoned bail. Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm said her lobby group has been mandated by the Plaatjies family to oversee the judicial process, so that justice can be served.
“Our role going forward will be to stand with Chanelle’s family in court and in the public eye. Our presence will ensure this case is not buried under delays or inefficiencies. Chanelle was a child. Her murder cannot be met with silence or compromise.”
Last week, community members vented their outrage while speaking to Action Society outside court, pleading for justice to take its course.
“Chanelle’s story echoes the fears of families across South Africa,” Palm added. “We urge the court to deny bail in this matter. There is too much at stake – the safety of our daughters, the trust in our justice system, and the right of every victim to have their case treated with the gravity it deserves,” Palm concluded.
READ MORE: Chanelle Plaatjies murder: Boyfriend and two others appear in court
