One of the men accused of murdering 10-year-old Ayesha Kelly should remain in jail as he will either be killed by vigilantes, or members of a rival gang.
This was according to the testimony of a member of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) at the appearance of the two suspects in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Cameron Julius, 24, a member of the Hard Livings gang, abandoned his bail application while his co-accused, Nathaneal Arendse, 20, also an alleged skollie, faced a packed gallery as he launched his bid for freedom.
Members of the Tafelsig community have asked the court to deny them bail in a petition which garnered nearly 1000 signatures.
The State previously ordered that Julius not be identified until an identity parade was completed, but that will no longer take place.
It is alleged the duo shot and killed Ayesha on the evening of 8 December 2019 during a gunfight with their rivals, the Americans.
KILLED: Ayesha Kelly, 10
The little girl had been on her way to a tuck shop with friends in Oudekloof Road, Tafelsig.
Arendse was arrested 10 days later after AGU worked around the clock to find him.
Ayesha’s heartbroken mother, Insaaf Kelly, and devastated father, Jonathan Arendse, told the Daily Voice Julius was once their friend.
Devastated father, Jonathan Arendse. Video: Genevieve Serra
The defence revealed that Julius would not be applying for bail as he had been out on bail for a previous case when Ayesha was killed, and that bail had now been revoked.
Julius and Riaan Moses are facing a charge of robbery which took place in Rocklands last year.
They were granted bail, on condition that they stay out of the area.
When Julius was arrested for Ayesha’s murder, witnesses told cops they had seen him in Tafelsig on the day she was killed.
During his bail application, Arendse said he was a taxi gaatjie and was looking after his mother and two siblings, and admitted he was a “former member of the 28s gang”.
But, Detective Sergeant Bradley Schuurman testified that Arendse was previously arrested.
In one case, he was charged with assault after allegedly stabbing someone with scissors. He was just 12 years old at the time.
HARTSEER: Ayesha’s mom, Insaaf , and dad, Jonathan
Schuurman said Arendse was not a suitable candidate for bail because he could intimidate witnesses, some of whom were minors, and was a member of the Hard Livings gang with tattoos to prove it.
“If he comes out, (my witnesses) will fear for their lives and we have seen this where witnesses will be too scared to testify,” he said.
“His life is also in danger because the rival gang he shot on, the Americans, they won’t leave it like this.”
Schuurman added Arendse had four different addresses, and did not live at his mom’s house in Delft, as he had claimed.
Mense protesting outside court. Video: Genevieve Serra
He said the accused did not like to follow rules, making him a poor candidate for house arrest, while he also posed a flight risk.
The matter was postponed to February 4 for a bail outcome.