A man sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a cop has been charged with murdering his cellmate at Goodwood Prison last year.
Christopher Jantjies, 28, was sentenced to life plus 35 years in May, after he was found guilty of murdering Law Enforcement officer Ben Koopman.
SLAIN: Cop Ben Koopman. Photo: Supplied
Koopman was shot at close range outside his home in Eerste River in February 2016.
While awaiting trial for Koopman’s murder, Jantjies allegedly murdered his cellmate Xolisile Majezi, 32, from Wallacedene in Kraaifontein.
BRUTAL: Xolisile Majezi, 32, of Kraaifontein. Photo: Supplied
Majezi was awaiting trial for house
robbery.
His grief-stricken family now says the justice system has failed them, as Jantjies is believed to have entered into a plea deal with the State.
Majezi’s aunt, Lucy Buys, 52, says they are shattered by the murder, which happened just days before he was set to be released from prison.
“He was set to get a suspended sentence and come out on 21 June 2017,” she explains.
“I signed the documentation at Correctional Services and everyone at home was excited for him to be released.
“He was a good person and his parents in the Eastern Cape are broken.”
Lucy says her nephew often complained about Jantjies, who was apparently causing problems for everyone.
She says Majezi was killed after Jantjies “went berserk”.
“Xolisile told us how evil he was. A fight broke out in the prison and Jantjies went haywire,” says Lucy.
“Jantjies bashed in his head with the hook of the bed. He had so many head wounds.
“When I went to the morgue I could see there was no way Xolisile would have survived.
“That man is pure evil.”
She says the family is angry that Jantjies will not go on trial for the murder and was given an “easy way out”.
“He was offered 15 years in jail, 15 years for a killing? It is unfair. He got life for the killing of that cop, why can’t he get 25 years for Xolisile?
“We are disappointed in this justice system. Xolisile was a father. Now with his next appearance [Jantjies] just gets a slap on the wrist,” Lucy says.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Eric Ntabazalila confirms the court matter, but says the plea agreement has not yet been finalised.
He says Jantjies will be back to the Parow Regional Court on 29 August and has been charged with murder and gang-related crime.
“Jantjies is charged with murder and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) cases,” Ntabazalila said.