A 14-year-old suspect, who was recently re-arrested in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl in Kraaifontein, will remain in police custody until his next court appearance.
The teenager made his first official appearance at the Blue Downs Magistrates Court on Friday, 18 September, after police confirmed that he was re-arrested on Thursday.
He’s facing a charge in connection with the death of Octovia Swarts, whose body was found in a dam in Joostenbergvlakte on Monday, after she reportedly disappeared a day before.
Police intially arrested the teen suspect on a charge of murder on Tuesday but were instructed by the National Prosecuting Authority to release him to continue investigating the case. Officers then re-arrested the suspect on Thursday.
READ MORE: Teen boy released into parent’s care, after girl’s body found in Kraaifontein dam – Smile 90.4FM
“Kindly be advised that the 14 year old boy was rearrested and will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court [on] Friday, 18 September 2026,” confirmed Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg.
He returns to court on Monday.
Before the suspect’s rearrest, chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee Ian Cameron questioned why the court wanted the suspect released in the first place.
“For the NPA saying that there isn’t enough evidence or the information in the docket is not sufficient, the matter should’ve been remanded. You don’t just release and remove it from the [court] roll. There are processes in place to give the police time to do further investigation. I’m very concerned about the almost haphazard way the case was handled,” said Cameron.
Cameron said that with a sensitive case like this, it’s important to consider the safety of others affected by the case, as well as the suspect.
“There’s no use, if something were to happen to the alleged suspect, to then try and piece that together when it could’ve been prevented in the first place… You can imagine the emotions going along with this whole ordeal. As soon as children are involved, it aggravates the whole process.”
*The article has been updated and edited to include the latest information on the case.
