Van Dyk Park murders: CPI member says community doesn’t want Adams released
A community patrol member told the court that residents do not want the accused back in their neighbourhood, as the families of Jessica Rabe and Yudistan Pillay continue to seek justice for their children.
The bail application of Haroon Rashid Adam (27), accused of murdering Jessica Rabe (20) and Yudistan Pillay (25), continued in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on October 13, with further testimony from a Van Dyk Park Community Patrol Initiative (CPI) member before the matter was postponed to October 21 for arguments.
The state opposes Adam’s release on bail, with previous testimony from investigating officer Detective Sergeant Moemedi Selele raising concerns about possible witness interference and the impact his release could have on the ongoing investigation.
Adam and his co-accused, Wessel Hendrick Swart (27), face charges of murder, kidnapping, assault and defeating or obstructing the course of justice following the couple’s deaths. Their bodies were discovered at 25 Wildevy Crescent in Van Dyk Park on August 30, after they were reported missing to Dawn Park SAPS on July 27.
Residents oppose release
State prosecutor Sipho Kutuwana called the CPI member to testify about residents’ views on Adam’s bail application and the possibility of his return to the neighbourhood.
The member, whose identity is being withheld, told the court that residents did not want Adam back in Van Dyk Park.
Having lived in the area for about 35 years, the CPI member said he was actively involved in community patrol activities and had assisted police in pursuing Adam on numerous occasions.
He alleged that Adam had been linked to repeated criminal activity and that previous cases had not resulted in the outcomes residents had hoped for.
“The general feeling of the community is that they don’t want the accused to come back.”
To support his evidence, the witness presented a petition opposing Adam’s release, which had attracted more than 2 400 signatures.
The petition was circulated through community WhatsApp groups, allowing residents to sign online or visit designated shops where it was available.
The witness said the petition had also attracted signatures from outside the area, including Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Albany in the United States. However, most signatories were from the local community.
The witness handed the petition to Adam’s defence attorney, Ebrahim Omar, for examination during the proceedings.
Calls for justice
The witness also addressed concerns about the community’s confidence in the criminal justice system, stressing that residents wanted the case to proceed without outside interference.
Drawing on his involvement in community safety initiatives, he highlighted the importance of letting the legal process run its course.
“We feel that justice must prevail in this case,” he testified.
The testimony followed Selele’s earlier evidence that the state opposed bail, citing concerns about possible interference with witnesses and outstanding investigative work.
Selele previously told the court that Adam’s proximity to certain witnesses could make it easier for him to approach or intimidate them.
The detective also said the investigation remained incomplete, with outstanding suspects and other aspects still requiring attention.
Swart, who is also charged in connection with the couple’s deaths, has abandoned his own bail application.
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