Andrew Plaatjies, 50, is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates' Court on a charge of murder.
Rene-Tracy’s half-naked and badly decomposed body was found wrapped in a mat and hidden in a Wendy house in the back of Plaatjies’ girlfriend’s house.
A man cleaning the yard made the gruesome discovery on March 21, just metres from her home in St. Agatha Street, Montague Village.
The young girl disappeared on March 10 to go to the shop, but never returned.
Plaatjies was arrested in Stellenbosch while visiting family. It is believed he confessed to killing Rene, after he tried, but failed, to rape her.
Rene’s father, Eugene Jacobs, told the Daily Voice his daughter’s killer had cut all her hair, “probably in an effort to disguise her body”.
Steenberg Community Policing Forum’s chairwoman, Lucinda Evans, has called on the public to support the community of Lavender Hill and seek justice for Rene-Tracy.
In a Facebook post, Evans wrote: “We are calling on the community to support Rene Roman’s family on Tuesday 4th April at Wynberg Court for the first appearance of the perpetrator.
“We are requesting the community to come with placards requesting the following: NO BAIL, MINIMUM TWO LIFE SENTENCES WITHOUT PAROLE, AND LETTERS REQUESTING that NO BAIL be granted.”
She asked people to be disciplined and protest without violence, and for protesters to come dressed in pink clothing.
She added: “We will go straight from court to the funeral service of Stacha Arendse (sic) to support the family of Mitchells Plain.”