Cape Town - The girl who was allegedly strangled and stabbed to death by her neighbour would have celebrated her 11th birthday on Saturday.
Instead her family is now struggling to raise funds for her funeral which they hope to have on the day she would have blown out 11 candles.
To add to her grief, murdered Misholine Jantjies’ mother, Magrieta Jantjies, 38, faced her daughter’s alleged killer in court for the first time on Monday.
Montell Campher, 20, appeared in the Muizenberg Magistrates’ Court for the little girl’s murder.
He is accused of attacking her last Tuesday in a park in Drury Street, Capricorn.
The gruesome attack happened in front of Misholine’s young friend who Campher allegedly threatened as well.
He allegedly choked her before stabbing her in the neck.
Misholine died in the street minutes later.
During his brief appearance on Monday, Magrieta admits she could not bear to look at Campher.
“When I heard his name and he came out I saw him, then I looked down because it was too difficult for me,” she said.
“Ek het heel tyd kop in die grond gesit (I sat with my head to the ground the entire time),” she told the Daily Voice.
Campher’s appearance was over in minutes and the case postponed to January 5 for bail information.
The community handed a letter to the court asking the State to oppose bail.
Outside court residents held up posters reading, “no bail for child killer” and “#childkillermustfall”.
Steenberg Community Policing Forum chairperson Lucinda Evans said Campher must remain behind bars.
“The children who he threatened are petrified,” she adds.
Evans said the community will continue to support both mothers and they will be back at the next court appearance.
Magrieta said Campher’s mother asked her for forgiveness.
“His mother came to me after court and apologised for what he did,” she said.
“She said she didn’t raise him like that.
“I couldn’t say anything to her.”
The mothers hugged each other in front of the picketing community members.
Meanwhile, Magrieta said she needs assistance with her daughter’s funeral arrangements.
“Ek het nie geld om haar te begrawe nie, en ek hoop ons kan haar op haar birthday begrawe,” she said. (I don’t have money to bury her and I hope that we can bury her on her birthday.)
The mother of three said they need R5 500 to bury her daughter.
Anyone who would like to assist with the funeral can contact Lucinda Evans on 073 424 4665.
Daily Voice
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