GEORGE NEWS - The man, Rodney Witbooi (33) who allegedly killed his wife Soneé with a panga at their home in Loeriepark in December 2022, and who is also facing a charge of attempted rape in an unrelated incident, appeared in the George Regional Court on Monday 19 February.
In October last year, Witbooi was set to make his first appearance in the George Circuit High Court.
However, the case was not accepted by the High Court or placed on the court roll of any court - despite it being transferred from the district court to the high court on 13 September.
Witbooi was however kept in custody on the attempted rape charge that originates from an incident that happened in January 2020.
He had previously been released on a warning in this case, but the warning was retracted after an application was brought to court by the state.
The case was postponed on Monday until Tuesday 2 April, as the state requested that the attempted rape case be tried with the murder case in the George Circuit High Court.
According to spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Eric Ntabazalila, they are still waiting for a reply from the registrar of the high court as to whether Witbooi will be tried in the high court. "In terms of the Western Cape High Court directives, we will get a response within 30 days. Our application was made on 30 January 2024," he said.
Charges
In addition to the charges of attempted rape and murder, Witbooi faces three charges of attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill Soneé's sister, her boyfriend and a neighbourhood watch member who responded to the scene.
He also faces one charge of housebreaking with the intent to commit a crime, as well as assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and certain charges relating to drugs.
It is alleged that Witbooi attacked his wife Soneé and the three others with a panga at their home in Boekenhout Street in the early morning hours of 21 December 2022.
Soneé succumbed to her injuries and was declared dead by paramedics. The other victims also sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
Previous abuse
Witbooi allegedly abused his wife physically and verbally on numerous occasions in the past.
On 19 December 2022 Witbooi, Soneé and some friends were socialising at their home in Boekenhout Street, when an argument allegedly erupted between Witbooi and Soneé's sister.
A physical altercation, involving a knife, allegedly followed between Witbooi and the two women and the police were contacted to remove Witbooi from the premises.
The case was however not enrolled as no charges were reported and Witbooi was released on a warning not to return to the house in Boekenhout Street. Soneé and her sister did however apply for an interim protection order.
On 21 December, Witbooi entered the house with a panga and the neighbourhood watch was alerted.
It is alleged that he insisted to have a talk with Soneé in the bedroom and became enraged when she told him she was ending their relationship. This is when the attack started.
Witbooi allegedly hacked his wife to death while inflicting severe injuries to the two other people in the house.
When neighbourhood watch members arrived, they allegedly found Witbooi in the kitchen, from where he continued his attack on a neighbourhood watch member before a second member of the neighbourhood watch also entered the house.
They managed to disarm him and handed him over to the police. He has been in custody since his arrest.
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