The Bonteheuwel community and City of Cape Town leaders came out in force on Monday to call on the court to make sure that a man accused of shooting and killing a young mom is convicted.
Outside the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said investigators are working hard on nailing suspect Fernando Isaacs.
The 36-year-old is accused of robbing Lauren Dryden, 31, of her cellphone before shooting her on Friday morning at around 6am.
The mom of two had been waiting for a taxi home after finishing a night shift at her job in Epping.
Smith said the Safety and Security Investigating Unit will be keeping an eye on the case.
“They will work with the investigating officers and keep in touch with the family.
“We’ll make sure we get results on this one,” he said.
“This is particularly a relevant case because we are dealing with repeat offenders, who are driving statistics in these communities and continuously terrorising the citizens.”
On Monday morning a group of over 50 Bonteheuwel residents picketed outside the court demanding that Isaacs be denied bail.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said Isaacs was charged and his case was postponed to 30 November for bail information and for a legal representative from Legal Aid SA to come on board.
Lauren’s relative Debra Ruiters, 42, said she is determined to make sure the accused stays behind bars.
“This case affects me deeply, this is a mother of two children,” she said.
“A mother who had just left her place of work, she got robbed and killed.
“I’m totally disgusted with this incident. As a community and family member, I think we should stand up now because this could happen to us too.
“We mustn’t wait until it does, like with this case.
“I’m going to follow each and every procedure to make sure he stays behind bars.”
In court, it emerged that Isaacs had previously been arrested for murder.
And Councillor Angus McKenzie says the criminal justice system has failed the Bonteheuwel community.
“The accused would never have committed this crime had he been behind bars for the rest of his life for the other murders he allegedly committed.”