THE LAMBERT’S Bay man accused of stabbing his long term girlfriend Lizel Toontjies to death made his first court appearance in Clanwilliam.
Police say the suspect in his thirties was arrested after he stabbed his 28-year old-girlfriend to death in Lang Street Lamberts Bay during an apparent domestic dispute on Sunday.
Family spokesperson Esmaralda van Rheenen said the couple had been together for over 12 years.
The family said she would be buried in two weeks time.
“They had four kids together and we are all still so shocked, she stood by him through everything. We are trying our best to cope.”
Community worker Beverly Schalk said drugs were at the root of many issues in the community.
“No one expected this. It has been a long time since something like this has happened in our community. Last week Thursday a young man was also killed. You can see it is all connected to drugs. The guy who did it is on drugs, the one who died last week is on drugs and the one who killed him is on drugs,” she said.
Rural and Farmworkers Development organisation said the incident shone the spotlight on gender-based violence.
“This senseless murder once again lets the spotlight fall on gender-based violence in our communities. It is time for men to stand up against GBV. We ask God to comfort the family. We call on the Lamberts Bay community to take back the community from evil men. We pray that justice will prevail,” director Billy J Claasen said.