The 14-year-old boy suspected in the death of 10-year old Octavia Swarts, appeared in the Bluedowns Magistrates’ Court yesterday where the case was remanded to 28 September for a bail application.
The teenager, a relative of the deceased, made his first formal appearance in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Friday, after police confirmed he had been re-arrested the previous day.
Swarts’ body was recovered from a dam in Joostenbergvlakte on last Monday, a day after she was reported missing.
Police first arrested the teenager on a murder charge last Tuesday, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) instructed that he be released while investigations continued.
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Grievous injury
Octavia went missing on Sunday evening 13 September. The family reportedly contacted the neighbourhood watch on Sunday night after the girl failed to return home. According to family members, she had been playing with other children in the area where they always play.
Neighbourhood watch members searched nearby orchards and surrounding farms into the late hours, but found no sign of her.
“At that point there was no indication she might be harmed or dead,” Dave Gale from the Joostenbergvlakte Neighbourhood Watch told TygerBurger.
Police were reportedly called out by the family on Sunday but failed to respond. This, according to Dave Gale of the Joostenbergvlakte Neighbourhood Watch, is not unusual.
“We often wait up to six hours for the police to show after we call them out to pick up a suspect we have arrested, for instance. We are told there are not enough police resources and that patrol vans have to focus on contact crime in other high-crime areas of Kraaifontein. We are also told there is not sufficient crime in our rural area to justify a permanent police patrol van,” said Gale.
“On Monday morning, a farmer circulated a picture of the girl via BOLO in a fresh bid to locate her. Shortly afterwards, at around 08:30, her body was spotted in the farm dam in the orchard. Police were immediately notified and a forensics unit was deployed to the scene.
Kraaifontein police initially opened an inquest docket to determine if anyone was responsible for her death, but this was later upgraded to murder after new evidence emerged during the investigation, leading to the arrest of a family member of the girl. How the teenager is related to her is withheld to protect his identity.
It is suspected that her body was dragged from here and hidden inside the dam, a built-up farm dam with sloping sides.
Octavia was reportedly found with grievous injuries to her face and head. About 30 metres from the dam, blood, a hair accessory and a cement slab were also found.
“It is suspected that her body was dragged from here and hidden inside the dam, a built-up farm dam with sloping sides,” said Gale.
This evidence was missed by the forensics team. According to Gale, a neighbourhood watch member had to chase down the forensics team and call them back to the scene after community members discovered the evidence. Police have not commented on the concerns raised about their failure to respond on Sunday or the forensics team missing evidence at the scene.
Meanwhile family and friends gathered at a memorial service held for her at Joostenberg Primary School on Monday. She was described as an ambitious learner who was respectful towards her teachers and classmates.
The investigation continues, as Octavia’s funeral is expected to take place on Wednesday.
