WATCH: Alleged attacker released overnight, private prosecution team steps in
Advocate Gerrie Nel and his team are doing a huge job.
The Middelburg Observer has realised that the criminal justice system has collapsed.
This was said by advocate Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, during Friday’s No Guts No Story No Glory-seminar at Olifants River Lodge.
According to Nel, the Private Prosecuting Authority seems to be chasing statistics, rather than ensuring that justice is served for victims of crime.
@middelburgobserver Video 1 – Afriforum’s Private Proecution Unit Head Advocate Gerrie Nel, addresses journalists during Friday’s No Guts, No Glory annual seminar at Olifants River Lodge. Nel said that South Africa’s criminal justice system has collapsed, and that community journalists play an important part in ensuring that crimes are prosecuted.
On Friday, Nel explained how the private prosecution unit and the Middelburg Observer, had formed a partnership to ensure that there is justice for crime victims.
Since the culpable homicide charge of Kumbulani Malinga was referred to the private prosecution unit six years ago, 15 cases have already been handled.
Malinga was responsible for the death of Liezel Visagie who was struck and killed by Malinga’s speeding BMW while crossing the road with her daughter.
Visagie succeeded in pushing her daughter out of harm’s way milliseconds from being struck herself while Malinga was fleeing traffic officers.
Police and the courts released Malinga due to blood/alcohol tests not being avaliable.
He was told to return to court a year later.
Advocate Nel said the unit trusts the Middelburg Observer to refer cases, that is deserving of prosecution, to its advocates, who have been mandated by victims to represent them pro bono.
“There are brilliant stories,” Nel said.
@middelburgobserver Video 2 – Afriforum’s Private Proecution Unit Head Advocate Gerrie Nel, addresses journalists during Friday’s No Guts, No Glory annual seminar at Olifants River Lodge. Nel said that South Africa’s criminal justice system has collapsed, and that community journalists play an important part in ensuring that crimes are prosecuted.
When Nel’s team takes on a case, they put pressure on both the police and local courts to explain why investigations and consequent prosecutions of cases, do not happen as they should.
Nel also referred to the case of Johanna Mlangeni who was stabbed to death in Cowen Ntuli Street on July 31st, with her alleged attacker being released overnight.
He was caught by community members, who also recovered the knife used in the attack on the grandmother.
Mlangeni also identified her alleged murderer to police with her last breaths.
@middelburgobserver Video 3 – Afriforum’s Private Proecution Unit Head Advocate Gerrie Nel, addresses journalists during Friday’s No Guts, No Glory annual seminar at Olifants River Lodge. Nel said that South Africa’s criminal justice system has collapsed, and that community journalists play an important part in ensuring that crimes are prosecuted.
The case never made it to the court roll, because according to the senior state prosecutor, the suspect could not be linked to the crime.
The alleged murderer was set free during Women’s Month with Mlangeni laid to rest in Doornkop on National Women’s Day (August 9th).
The entire team of the private prosecution unit was present at the seminar where they were introduced to seminar attendees.
The annual seminar is for journalists from Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with Akademia students also in attendance.
