Carlo Petersen
THE family of six-year-old Saadiqah Lippert knew her alleged killers, who often came to visit at their Kewtown home, the slain child’s grandmother said outside court yesterday.
Samier Slamang, 26, and Wayland Botha, 22, were charged with murder in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court after Saadiqah was shot in the stomach and died in hospital earlier this week.
Saadiqah had been outside her father Saadiq Lippert’s home in 9th Avenue, Bokmakierie when two men came running down the road firing guns.
State prosecutor Xolani Ntozini told the court the shooting was gang- and drug-related.
Earlier police told the public, who had packed the courtroom, to vacate due to a “security threat”.
Cluster Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Hanif Loonat said police were informed that a rival gang would seek revenge for Saadiqah’s death when Slamang and Botha appeared.
Only the media and Saadiqah’s father and mother, Chimeize Francis, were allowed inside the courtroom as heavily armed police officers watched over proceedings.
Ntozini told magistrate Keith le Keur that Slamang and Botha handed themselves in at the Athlone police station on Wednesday after witnesses identified the pair as Saadiqah’s alleged killers. The accused will remain in custody until they appear in court again on May 12 to give the State time to gather information for a bail hearing.
Francis, 30, wailed in court as Slamang and Botha went down to the holding cells.
As the police van transported the accused to Pollsmoor Prison, residents banged their hands on the vehicle, shouting in anger.
Outside court Saadiqah’s grandmother, Maliekah Windell-Hendricks, broke down after hearing who the accused were.
“But they used to visit us all the time. She knew them well,” Windell-Hendricks said.
She said the family were trying to “block out all the negativity” after reports emerged that Lippert had allegedly been involved in gangsterism and drug dealing. “We don’t know anything about that, but we will be having a protest march from 9th Avenue on Saturday at 2pm to honour Saadiqah,” Windell-Hendricks said.
Athlone CPF chairperson Aziza Kannemeyer said speculation is rife about Lippert’s alleged involvement in drug dealing.
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