There was mild pandemonium in the Benoni magistrate’s courtroom when the father of four-year-old Bokgabo Poo on Monday tried to accost the man suspected of her murder in the dock.
Ntokozo Zikhale is accused of abduction, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and violation of a corpse.
Security was on high alert before the court proceedings as many anti-GBV campaigners, political parties, and concerned citizens staged demonstrations demanding justice.
Family members were also present ahead of the proceedings. While state prosecutor Chantelle Williams was speaking, Bokgabo’s father, Irvin Ndlovu, got agitated, screamed, and lunged trying to reach the accused. This prompted the law enforcement agents to intervene and the court had to abruptly adjourn.
“You killed my daughter”, he shouted while people in the public gallery repeatedly called the accused “Satan!”.
The defence lawyer immediately withdrew from the case, citing a conflict of interests. The case has been postponed to October 24 for proper profiling of the accused and a formal bail application.
The 30-year-old was arrested in Boksburg on Friday after CCTV footage showed him walking alongside Bokgabo on the day she disappeared.