A Mitchells Plain man accused of snatching a two-year-old girl over the weekend has been sent for medical checks by a district surgeon.
Melvin Philander, 31, made his first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was busted for kidnapping little Rulene Jones just metres from her Manenberg home.
The disappearance of the meisie on Saturday sent shockwaves through the community, who launched an all-night search for the toddler.
Hundreds of worried mense took to the streets in search of the kidnapper and child.
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Vanessa Adriaanse, says over 150 patrollers descended on the tot’s home and immediately started searching homes, bins, yards and veldjies.
She explained as word spread about the search, they came into contact with Philander’s relatives who told them to search the Silversands squatter camp in Mitchells Plain.
On Sunday morning, cops found him with Rulene and medical tests were conducted on the child.
Her family later reported that she had not been harmed in any way.
On Tuesday, Philander made a bail application during court proceedings, which the state prosecutor opposed.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazilila, says the matter was postponed to 25 October for Philander to be seen by a district surgeon.
“He might be referred to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital depending on the district surgeon’s findings on Monday,” he said.
Vanessa says residents believe Philander is playing mal: “The community is compiling a petition to oppose his release on bail as we believe he is a danger to children in the community.
“The community is still in shock but happy that the girl was not harmed.
“We cannot allow him to get bail, we don’t know what he will do. He is unstable and has no fixed address.
“I think he knew what he was doing because a mad person would not be able to do these things.
“He sells items for an income so how does he count money if he is mad? We don’t believe it.”