A note was delivered from the Pollsmoor Prison doctor and it was recorded that Renaldo van Rooyen, 34, had received a Voltaren-injection for his illness and would not be able to attend court.
Last week van Rooyen was ill twice and court proceedings were postponed for him to visit the doctor at the prison, but he arrived too late the first time and the second time, site officials would not let him go.
He was escorted to the doctor first thing yesterday morning and was diagnosed ‘too ill to come to court’.
The case was then postponed.
Van Rooyen and accused number two, Tawfeeq Ebrahim, 26, are charged with the murder of the mother of two who was last seen by her mother on 14 March 2016.
Zarah was hit over the head with a hammer five times and her body was found ten days later on a farm in the Klein Drakenstein.
Zarah’s family just want #Justice4Zarah.
On Tuesday, Renaldo’s mother, Rachelle testified that Renaldo, Zarah and Tawfeeq entered her home together on the 15th.
Rachelle said Renaldo had driven off alone in the silver BMW Z3, Zarah always drove and Tawfeeq had driven off alone as well in the ‘maroon car’.
Eldest sister, Vivi-Anne Pretorius said she was shocked to hear this.
“This means she was the last woman to see my sister alive. My mother saw her last on the evening of the 14th and then she was gone,” says Vivi-Anne.
Vivi-Anne says the family are frustrated and want the trial to commence and the delays to stop.
“These delays are very frustrating. He has fallen ill for the third time since last week and was then not able to see the doctor till Wednesday. The court is being very kind to allow him to see a doctor and get a sicknote to put on record.
“This trial has been delayed since it started and we just want to get on with it and have no more delays. We hoping that we can get on with it today,” says Vivi-Anne.