Durban - Protesters outside the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday called for "witchcrafters and murderers to be burnt alive".
The words were written on a poster, displayed outside the court where six people, including three minors, appeared briefly for the murder of Desiree Murugan, whose decapitated body was found last month in Durban's Shallcross Stadium.
Proceedings in courtroom C were held in camera with only the victim's and the accused's families, and journalists, allowed in.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday for the six to appear in the Durban Regional Court when a date for a bail application would be set.
The three minors cannot be named and are being detained at the youth facility of Durban's Westville prison.
Sivonkaliso Mbili, 32, and Vusumuzi Gumede, 30, are being detained at Westville prison. The sixth accused, Falakhe Khumalo, was being held in the Chatsworth police station cells, prosecutor Lolly Soobramoney told the court.
"He is assisting police in the recovery of the murder weapon," she said.
Municipal workers found Murugan's body in the stadium last month.
Her head was found in Imfume, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast a few days later.
It is believed that she was lured to the stadium, where she was killed.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said earlier that one of the accused was a traditional healer.
The Daily News reported at the time that the 39-year-old had a six-year-old son and worked as a prostitute. She also had a drug habit.
On Sunday Murugan’s family said they were hurt by the portrayal of Murugan as a sex worker, and asked for sensitivity, saying she was a human being.
“This could have happened to anyone. She was not born a sex worker or a drug addict. The media has overlooked this and ignored what led her to it,” Murugan’s sister, Jennet, said.
Murugan’s funeral was held on Saturday.
Jennet Murugan said drugs were the worst killer substance, and even affected people in their fifties and sixties.
Murugan had apparently had a long battle with drugs.
Shortly before her death, Murugan was convicted and sentenced for the possession of heroin.
Legal Aid attorney Sarisha Kondiah said she had represented Murugan on August 7 in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
“She came to court on a warrant of arrest which was issued on April 10, 2013. The charge was one of possession of heroin, and she pleaded guilty.”
Murugan was sentenced to a fine of R5 000 or eight months’ imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years.
Kondiah said Murugan did have previous drug-related charges.
The attorney said what stood out about the mother of one when she represented her, was the picture of a very thin and dehydrated woman.
Her family, she said, were in court at the time, but Murugan did not speak about them.
It has been reported that family and friends had tried to counsel Murugan, but she could not beat the addiction.
On Monday the courtroom was initially packed to capacity. It took some time before those not part of the families, or who were not journalists, left.
Outside the court about 70 protesters - many wearing National Freedom Party and Democratic Alliance shirts - held placards and shouted. Some wore shirts with Murugan's picture on them.
Other posters read: "why are killers walking free" and "re-instate the death penalty".
Daily News and Sapa