In an emotional testimony at the Western Cape High Court, the neighbour of slain toddler Orderick Lucas cried as she told the court his mother would never hurt him.
Anthea Swartland appeared anxious as she took the witness stand on Thursday, recounting what she witnessed in the days leading up to Orderick’s disappearance.
Orderick was last seen on 24 March 2019, but it was only four days later when his mother Davedine discovered he was missing.
On 2 April 2019 his tiny body was discovered in a drain a street away from his ouma’s home.
His mother’s friend, Melvin Volkwyn, was later charged with his murder following claims by Davedine that he was the last person to care for the boy.
Wearing a green striped dress and a pink jersey, the woman who told the court she lived on the same property as Davedine appeared nervous and emotional throughout her testimony, often wiping tears from her eyes.
Anthea said she knew Davedine for about five years and confirmed that Orderick and his twin brothers, Tyrone and Tyreeq, spent the weekend with their parents before he disappeared.
She says after Davedine left her home on 24 March, a group of angry women arrived saying she had stolen a cellphone and she saw Davedine being moered by the mob.
Anthea backed up testimony by Orderick’s dad Doukoucia Kounkou Dziendelet, aka Safran, that Volkwyn had told them the child was at his home the next day.
“Safran was besig met sy motorfiets toe hoor ek Melvin kom en vra waar is Davedine,” she testified.
“Melvin told Safran that Orderick was by him. I also asked him and he said he had Orderick.”
She confirmed that she was aware of Davedine’s drug use, but said she was unaware that Davedine blew mandrax smoke into the child’s face so he could sleep.
She insisted Orderick was healthy despite medical reports listing various illnesses.
“Davedine was baie lief vir haar kinders. Sy kan drugs gebruik, maar sy het altyd gesorg dat haar kinders geëet het en teen alle tye was haar kinders saam met haar.
“I do not think that she would ever harm her children, especially Orderick because she loved him very much. Everywhere she went she took Orderick along.”
Dr. Adele Anthony, chief executive officer of Eerste River Day Hospital, also took the witness stand and explained Orderick’s medical reports.
She said the child could not have died from the septic sores on his body, but that there was a concern that he was not being cared for properly as he was malnourished and dirty.