Family of the man charged with the murder of drill squad drum major, Chad Arendse, say he did not kill him and had merely gone to fetch him from a party.
Drama unfolded in the corridors of the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday when the family of the accused faced Chad’s relatives.
The young man, who cannot be identified until an identity parade has been held, is applying for bail.
The matter was postponed to 15 August for his formal bail application.
The accused’s relatives shouted and swore at Chad’s parents, Bruce and Natasha Arendse, claiming the suspect was innocent and that they themselves are looking for justice and are praying for the truth to be revealed.
Drill squad drum major Chad Arendse. Picture supplied
A female relative of the accused said he was not part of the murder and had merely left his home on the night of the killing to fetch Chad from a party along with a group of men.
“We are just looking for justice so that the truth comes out because we have nothing to hide,” she said.
“ Ons kannie slaap in die aande nie, ons bid vir ons kind se veiligheid because hy het niks gedoen nie. Kyk waar lê hy.
“But you know what his problem was? They climbed out of their beds to fetch Chad at a party.
“That is what they have to face now, because they fetched him at a party.”
This was followed by “f*** you” hurled at Chad’s parents.
Chad, 19, from Beacon Valley was the drum major for Littlewood Primary Drill Squad and the Western Province Marching Squad.
He was also involved in the Malay and Christmas choirs and was a member of the Pennsylvanians klopse.
In just a few months, Chad was expected to join the South Africa Navy, but his life was cut short when he was shot multiple times in Beaufort Street in Rocklands on 15 June.
Chad had attended the 21st birthday party of a friend and was waiting for a lift home when he was killed.
He was shot between 12 and 14 times in the head and face.
The motive for the killing is yet to be revealed.
The two families faced off at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates' Court. Picture supplied
Chad’s mother, Natasha, says they have been left devastated and rattled after the verbal abuse at the courthouse.
She says they want the family of the accused to understand that they are not the police or detectives in the case.
She also responded to the claims that the man had fetched Chad from the party: “Why would they (a group of young men, including the suspect) fetch Chad [when] Chad was not even their friend.
“We understand a witness says they were at the party.
“They (the family) is blaming us for his arrest, we are not the witnesses or the police.
“We just want justice.”