Update

GEORGE NEWS - Facing charges of arson and defeating the ends of justice following a house fire in George South, Damian du Plessis (40) will remain in custody after the George Magistrate's Court postponed his bail application on Wednesday 12 August.

Du Plessis appeared for the second time since his arrest following the fire on Monday 3 August, after which a body had been discovered inside the burnt house.

State prosecutor Vandana Premchand opposed bail, citing the lack of a verified alternative residential address. Defence attorney Onelisa Zibonda requested a postponement to allow for the verification of an address and told the court that a possible address could be provided after 18 August.

The magistrate indicated that she could not deal with the matter, as she knows Du Plessis. The case was postponed to 20 August for verification of his residential address.

Du Plessis, a first offender, remains in custody.

Identity of deceased remains unconfirmed

Meanwhile, the identity of the body found in the house remains unconfirmed. The police have not released the identity or gender, and the cause of death has not been disclosed.

Speculation has emerged that the deceased could be Du Plessis's mother, who was believed to have lived with him at the property he rented in George South. The police have not confirmed this, however.

Friends describe Du Plessis

A friend of Du Plessis's, Theuns Eloff, told George Herald that Du Plessis and his mother had previously run a dog grooming parlour together. Eloff said the pair were extremely close and that Du Plessis had become his mother's carer when she became ill, leading to the closure of their business.

Du Plessis’s games room inside the George South house following the fire on 3 August. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel

"Damian is smart, intelligent and funny, and he was well liked in our games community, too. When his mum got sick, he put her first and became her carer, so they had to close the business," Eloff said.

A person associated with a local karate club, where Du Plessis had trained for several years, also recalled him positively, describing him as polite and well presented. This person also said his mother had supported him at various events.

Du Plessis's bedroom inside the George South house which was rented by Damian du Plessis and his mother. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel

Following Wednesday's court appearance, some friends and supporters of Du Plessis had gone to the George South property to remove his belongings from the burnt house.

The police investigation into the fire and the circumstances surrounding the body continues.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’