The man accused of raping and murdering his friend’s two-year-old daughter while babysitting her will be applying for bail.
Willie Simons made a brief appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday where he is facing a charge of rape and murder of Zaakierah Hendricks of Manenberg.
Simons was arrested last month after he tested positive for DNA samples found at the crime scene.
The DNA of 14 men, who had been present at the Venster Street property in Manenberg where Zaakierah was on the night of her death, were tested.
On Tuesday, Simons applied for a Legal Aid lawyer after his private attorney failed to pitch for his court appearance for the second time.
The court heard that the lawyer was not available to attend the proceedings until the end of the month.
VICTIM: Zaakierah, 2
Simons then opted for a Legal Aid lawyer.
His bail application is to begin on 11 May.
Zaakierah was left in the care of Simons while her mother, Zayda Hendricks, went out to a nightclub with a friend.
Zayda described Simons as a trusted friend who offered to look after the child.
The next day she found a barely breathing Zaakierah lying on a bed in her friend’s house and rushed her to hospital, where the toddler was declared dead on arrival.
It is believed the girl was strangled to death.
Simons is in custody at Pollsmoor Prison.