CAPE TOWN – The case against three suspects charged with murdering Karin van Aardt has been postponed until Friday, 19 December, for a bail application hearing. The accused – Ndiyabulela Vayi, Thando Nkolongo, and Yamnkela Mdunyelwa – appeared at Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December, facing charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
According to Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the state alleges that the three suspects were lying on grass beside Jakes Gerwel Drive when they spotted van Aardt’s vehicle stopping at a traffic light.
“They ran towards the vehicle. Nkolongo took out a spark plug and broke the passenger window, while Vayi attempted to grab the deceased’s bag and GPS,” Ntabazalila explained. “When she resisted letting go of her belongings, he stabbed her several times.”
The state will oppose the bail application when the case resumes, and further investigations are ongoing.
Zukile Nogilana, a community leader from Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa, expressed strong feelings about the case, emphasizing that the perpetrators should face the full force of the law.
“What these boys did was wrong. People are getting robbed of their belongings every day at Jakes Gerwel Road,” Nogilana said. He called for increased law enforcement presence, noting that “Jakes Gerwel is one of the hotspots for smash-and-grab incidents, and the people doing this are from Langa.”
Nogilana made it clear that the community wants harsh sentences: “I want the judges to ensure that the suspects rot in jail. It is high time judges consider our feelings when they pronounce judgment. We don’t need them in our society.”
He warned against granting bail, stating: “The mistake the judge can make is to release them on bail. We will deal with them. We are tired of the criminals.”
Van Aardt was fatally stabbed on Friday, 5 December, on Jakes Gerwel Drive near Langa. She and her husband had just arrived at Cape Town International Airport and were traveling to a family gathering in Vredenburg when the attack occurred.
As they approached traffic lights, criminals smashed their rental car window while attempting to steal her handbag. During the struggle, van Aardt was stabbed multiple times. Although her husband sped away seeking medical help, she had already succumbed to her wounds.
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