Anene accused’s mom speaks out

Published Apr 23, 2013

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Cape Town - The mother of the man who has confessed to raping and assaulting Anene Booysen, 17, has described him as someone who would always “be the person who would rather protect someone than see them get hurt”.

She was speaking out for the first time to the Cape Times on Monday outside the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court where the two men accused of Anene’s rape and murder - Johannes Kana, 21, and Jonathan Davids, 22, appeared briefly.

Kana’s mother, Lena Rickers, said that while the court “must do its work”, she knew her son would never “hurt anyone”.

“We can’t be upset,” she said.

“The court must do its work. We visit him (Kana) regularly and he’s doing okay.

“We know him as a friendly child.”

The courtroom was on Monday filled to capacity as the two men took to the dock for the first time since their appearance in February.

Kana has confessed to raping and assaulting Anene, the court heard in February, but his confession has not yet been revealed.

Both Davids and Kana admit to knowing Anene and that they had seen her in the pub the night she was brutally raped and attacked.

She died later in Tygerberg Hospital on February 2.

Davids was well known to Anene’s family and lived with them at one stage in 2010.

He also told the court earlier he knew her “very well”.

 

Prosecutor Maria Marshall said the State was still awaiting DNA forensic evidence, cellphone records and a report from a handwriting expert.

 

Anene named one of her attackers as “Zwai” before she died.

Davids is well known by the nickname “Zwai”.

Although the court heard of another man named “Zwai” from the township, the State does not regard this person as a suspect.

Anene’s family said Davids was the only “Zwai” she knew.

Marshall said the State expected the evidence in three weeks.

The case was postponed to May 21.

When the case was postponed, family members’ sighs of disappointment could clearly be heard in the public gallery.

Cape Times

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