Cape Town - Public Order Police and Parow police officials were deployed to two houses which were set alight shortly after Tazne van Wyk's murder accused Moehydien Pangaker made his first court appearance in Goodwood Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, Western Cape police said.
Protesters allegedly torched the two houses amid rumours that eight-year-old Tazne had been kept there. The houses are apparently brothels.
Tazne went missing from her Ravensmead home almost two weeks ago. Her body was found by police in a storm water pipe outside Worcester on Wednesday night, following the arrest of Pangaker earlier in the week. Pangarker allegedly led authorities to the location of the corpse.
He was arrested in Cradock, Eastern Cape, following an extensive investigation.
Ward Councillor Franchesca Walker said one property in Parow Street and another in Carstens Road were on fire as angry protesters demanded the alleged brothels be closed.
Picture: African News Agency/ANA
During court proceedings, people threatened to burn the houses. Shortly after Pangaker’s appearance, the mob walked from Goodwood to Parow when they set the houses alight.
Pangaker’s lawyer told the court he cannot sit or stand after he was allegedly assaulted by police.
Video: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)
The matter was postponed to 17 April for further investigation.
The SAPS urged members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. "Anyone who is found to have participated in such an unlawful act will be arrested and charged," police said.