Gasps filled the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when a charge of rape was brought against little Jeremiah Ruiters' alleged killer.
Abigail Ruiters, 30, and her 26-year-old boyfriend ,Ameeruddien Peters were arrested, following Jeremiah’s murder last Monday.
Peters was initially charged with murder and Abigail faced a charge of contravening the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005.
It’s alleged that Peters beat and stabbed little Jeremiah before taking him to a local clinic where he was declared dead on arrival.
Medical staff at the Kensington Clinic said Jeremiah had serious head and body injuries, including stab wounds to his neck and arms.
On Wednesday, the court heard that Jeremiah was raped before he was brutally beaten to death, allegedly by his mother's boyfriend.
Ameeruddien Peters
However, in more shocking revelations, the child’s mother was also charged with his murder now.
Speaking to the Daily Voice, Jeremiah’s grandfather Ronald Ruiters said he is “even more destroyed”.
“I am destroyed, like I said last week, more than anything. I don’t think Jeremiah deserved to raped and killed by a man (Ameeruddien )who still went into court to hug her (Abigail). It’s ridiculous! He’s go no remorse, no empathy,” a distraught Ronald said.