The family and friends of the man accused of kidnapping little Orderick Lucas came out in full support of him.
According to them, Mervin Volkwyn is innocent and loved the 20-month-old boy, whom he took care of many times and for whom he even bought clothing and food.
Volkwyn and his friend, Jonathan Alexander, were arrested for kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice last Monday, a day before Orderick’s body was discovered hidden in a stormwater drain just metres from his home in Eerste River.
Alexander was let go due to a lack of evidence.
The little boy was last seen by his family on Sunday, 24 March, when his mother, Davidene Lucas, 28, left him with Volkwyn.
The mother told cops the next day when she went to fetch her son, Volkwyn said he had given the child back.
According to the child’s father, who asked not to be named, Volkwyn had told him that he had given Orderick to Davidene’s mother, Cornelia Scheepers.
VICTIM: Orderick Lucas
Cornelia told the Daily Voice everyone thought Orderick was with someone else and they only discovered he was missing on Thursday, 28 March, and Davidene, a self-confessed drug addict, reported it to the police.
Orderick was found days later by five children while retrieving their ball from the drain.
On Tuesday, the matter against Volkwyn at the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court was postponed to 7 May for a formal bail application.
Orderick’s mom and ouma were also in the packed courtroom as Volkwyn, who identifies as a transgender woman, appeared, wearing a blue jeans and orange track top.
Video: Saafia February/Daily Voice
Outside court, more than 100 people gathered.
Jonathan Alexander, from Melton Rose, claimed Davidene knows the “truth”.
“Davidene is a terrible mother. She said she gave her heart to the Lord, but I saw her on Sunday at Orderick’s memorial doing drugs,” he said.
“She used to leave her twins with me a lot. I was the one who fed them and cared for them, both myself and Mel (Volkwyn).
“She tried to frame me, now she is doing the same with Mel.”
MOM: Davidene Lucas
Davidene said she is aware some people blamed her for Orderick’s death: “I did not want to come to court, but I am here for my child. This is going to turn into a fight,” she said.
Cornelia said she just wants the truth to come out: “It is shattering to see Mervin in court for this, when he loved my grandson so much.
“We have many questions, but we will have to wait to find out what happened.”