The Welkom Magistrates’ Court has granted accused number 1 in the attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and kidnapping case involving a frail 81-year-old woman R5 000 bail. The other five accused have each been granted R1 000 bail.
The court case has been postponed to 18 September for further investigation. As part of the investigation the investigating officer, WO Anje Tait still has to finalise interviews with potential witnesses, the video material has been sent to the SAPS Cyber Crime Unit for verification and authentification,
Lynette Brummer has been granted bail under strict terms. She may not go near the Silver Village Assisted Living Facility in Welkom; she may not interfere with, intimidate or have contact with witnesses; she may not tamper with evidence or approach the victim in any way; and she must distance herself and keep at least 100m radius from the centre.
Upon paying bail, Brummer had six hours to hand in her passport. It was a concern of the state that she has a valid passport and that her son-in-law works and lives in America. Brummer may not apply for a new passport when the existing one expires in 2026.
The other five accused − Anna Fourie (73), Nomsa Ngcongwane (56), Prudence Majorobella (35), Mofolo Ntswaki (30) and Puseleletso Mola (33) − may return to work, but they too may not interfere with the investigation or witnesses. The victim is still a resident of the facility and none of the accused are allowed to go near her or attend to her, not even in an emergency situation.
In a sworn affidavit before court Brummer says she denies that she had the intention to injure or kill anyone. She is not a violent person and has no prior convictions of violence against her. She says the allegations that she tried to kill an elderly person are untrue. She denies closing the mouth of the victim or binding her hands.
WO Anje Tait, investigating officer, testified during the bail hearing that Brummer can clearly be seen in video footage binding the hands and mouth of the victim. The footage was again mentioned in detail during bail judgement on Friday, 18 July. About 30 videos were recorded and have been sent to the police’s Cyber Crime unit for analysis.
During the bail application Tait gave evidence that Brummer and the other staff knew of the camera and Brummer knew she was being filmed. The video camera had been placed near the victim’s bed by her daughter.
The court heard on Friday that the employment and credentials of five of the accused had been verified by Tait, who has not yet been able to obtain Brummer’s employment file. Tait has been told it is not at the old-age home, and no-one can give it to her, not even the defence.
The bail judgement was made after three gruelling days of testimony. When passing judgement, the court said there were no compelling reasons to keep the six women incarcerated.
The accused have all been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault GBH. They are also facing charges under the Old Persons Act. The court has heard that a further charge of torture would be added.
Tait told the court another case implicating the accused had been made at the Welkom Police Station. She also referred to a third case that is pending.
Vista previously reported on vistanews.co.za about the gruesome acts of cruelty and depravity that came to light after footage thereof surfaced. Video footage and photographs depict extreme verbal, mental and physical abuse.
The elderly victim weighs 40kg.
■ The incident the court must now rule on took place at Silver Village Assisted Living at 180 Tempest Road in Welkom, and not at the Welkom Retirement Village on Peridot Avenue in Jan Cilliers Park. The two institutions provide different services to the elderly.
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