Locals express anger as murder accused cop appears in court
The father of the deceased, Trevor Keppler, said they want justice for their daughter and are going to do everything in their power to get justice.
A SAPS Sergeant, Mandla Goodman Buthelezi (42) appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court for the first time after being discharged from the hospital on January 6.
Buthelezi allegedly shot and killed his 22-year-old, Gauteng traffic warden girlfriend, Chesney Patricia Keppler, on December 26 at her residence in Eldorado Park.
The magistrate remanded the case to February 26 for further investigation.
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Community outrage filled the courtroom. MEC Lebogang Maile, Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds, and Bishop Dulton Adams were in attendance.
Speaking with the media, Maile said, “We think our laws must be amended to achieve at least three things.
“The first one is bail must not be allowed for perpetrators of GBV because this issue has gone out of control.
“The second is that victims must not withdraw charges because in most cases, a victim drops charges because they are dependent on the perpetrators.
“The third thing that the law must do is to introduce the harshest and the longest sentences towards the perpetrators of GBV.”
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He further commanded the community, along with the community leaders, to support the Keppler family through these hard times.
The father of the deceased, Trevor Keppler, said they want justice for their daughter and are going to do everything in their power to get justice.
“We will do everything in our power to fight this; not only this case because it is not about this case only but about GBV. We want it to come to an end,” he said.
