A woman accused of running over a father of two with her car has appeared at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court for the first time since her arrest in February.
Radiefa Blommetjie, 32, allegedly killed Joseph Barnes, 35, as she tried to “rescue” her boyfriend from the victim in Mitchells Plain.
Covered in a navy pardah which only showed her eyes, she walked into the courtroom accompanied by relatives.
She is being charged with murder.
The case was postponed to 9 December for further investigation.
Blommetjie was arrested on the same day Joseph died, but was released for an unknown reason.
According to a police source, she was allegedly in hiding for seven months before she was tracked down by the investigative officer last month.
“She is pregnant and if it wasn’t for that police would not have found her because she must go to hospital.
“She gave them a false address in February and went into hiding.”
The source says a formal inquiry was held after the arrest last month and the suspect was released on free bail.
“The charge was originally culpable homicide, but it’s been changed to murder.”
In February, Joseph chased after a man who had allegedly broken into his Harmony Village home when Blommetjie ran him over.
His widow Janine Barnes said she heard a noise in the house and went downstairs to investigate to find their TV had been stolen.
She saw two people outside and alerted her husband.
She also called her brother, who was staying with them and was out at the time, and he realised that his house key and jacket were missing.
A few hours later, the community brought a suspect to them and he gave them the name of the alleged burglar.
She said the man, who was in the crowd, ran away towards Blommetjie.
“The girlfriend waited (in a silver Honda Jazz) for her boyfriend to cross the road and then she came for my husband,” said Janine.
“She bumped him without stopping and struggled to get into gear.
“While my husband was lying on the windscreen, she accelerated.
“That was when my husband flew off the car and landed on the pavement and died.”
Janine says more than 30 people, including children, witnessed his death and that the driver came to a stop in Morgenster Road.
Blommetjie was arrested, but was released the same day.
Janine, her two children and friends were at court yesterday and held placards that read, “We miss you Daddy”, “Justice for Joey” and “RIP Dad”.
The mom says she is upset that her husband’s alleged killer is not in jail.
“Heaven only knows what the police were thinking when they released her in February.
“I have made peace with the fact that I am never going to see my husband again.
“I will fight for what is right because he was a very good man and father to our kids.”