Family, friends and Richmond Hill community members are expected to be at the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Monday to demand justice for murdered physiotherapist Marolien Schmidt (40).
This will be the first time that the suspect (29) of her brutal murder will appear in court. He was apprehended by police less than 24 hours after her murder – hiding out in an abandoned building close to her home in Richmond Hill.
Schmidt died of stab wounds after she was attacked in her home in the early hours of Wednesday, August 9. Neighbours heard glass breaking and her screams. They rushed to assist her and found her in a pool of blood. According to media reports she was still conscious and talking when neighbours assisted her.
ICYMI | WATCH | Vigil held for physiotherapist murdered in alleged home burglary
Neighbour Mike Eddy rushed her to a close-by hospital in his car because ambulances would have taken more than 10 minutes to arrive. But she died shortly later of the stab-wounds to her back and upper body.
But Marolien Schmidt was so much more than just another victim of a senseless, brutal murder.
Her family and friends described her as some-one who loved life and celebrated it. She died only a few days after celebrating her 40th birthday.
A friend, who prefers to remain anonymous, described her as “an awesome person who cared tremendously for people and treated strangers the same way she treated people she knew. She always had time for another smile and was not shy to share her smiles with everyone that crossed her path,” he said.
Sineke Schmidt, Marolien’s mom who is also a physiotherapist, told Kyran Blaauw from Netwerk24, that from a young age her daughter was a caring person who loved to help and work with people.
Marolien matriculated as an A-candidate from Hoër Volkskool in Graaff-Reinet whereafter she completed her physiotherapy studies at Stellenbosch University in 2005.
In a tribute posted on the Volkskool Graaff-Reinet Oud-Skoliere Facebook page, Marolien was described as someone who not only excelled in academics, but was also a prefect, member of the debating society, choir and played netball for the first team.
In the tribute Marolien’s passion for Ironman triathlons was also described. It started when she worked in the tents as a young physio, helping the competitors after the event as part of the medical team.
The participants inspired her, and in 2013 she completed her first half Ironman finishing just before the cut-off time of eight hours.
She entered for Ironman in 2015 and decided to do it in aid of the SMILE Foundation as her chosen charity. She received intensive training to help her with the open water swim part of the event. Since then she completed two full Ironman events as well as nine half Ironman events all over the world, of which five she did in aid of the Smile Foundation.
Richmond Hill residents were left reeling after the murder. In the recent past, the Richmond Hill Community, has uplifted the neighbourhood from urban decay to one known for popular restaurants and beautifully restored historical houses, especially the colourful houses in Sherlock Street where Marolien lived.
Ward 5 DA Councillor, Terri Stander, who is very active in the community and who is one of Marolien’s neighbours, has said in media reports that crime is escalating in this suburb and that there are many problem buildings that are of great concern.
According to another resident, who prefers to remain anonymous, it is in one of these buildings that the suspect was found and apprehended in, just a short distance from Marolien’s house. According to the resident this building has been a problem for many years as it is a hiding place and haven for criminals. Broken street-lights that are not being repaired also contribute to crime.
According to police spokesperson Capt. Sandra Janse van Rensburg, the motive for the crime is suspected to be robbery.
The suspect is in custody and his bail hearing is expected to take place in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to Netwerk24, Marolien was the oldest of three children and is survived by her mother Sineke, her brother Casper (38) who lives in Stellenbosch, and brother Jan (33), who lives in London and arrived on Thursday in Gqeberha. Her father, who was also a doctor, died 13 years ago after a heart attack.
