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Sheldean protesters: Kill him!
09/03/2007 14:31 - (SA)
Pretoria - The case of the man suspected of murdering seven-year-old Sheldean Human was postponed in the Pretoria magistrate's court on Friday.
Andrew Jordaan, 25, who had no lawyer, will apply for one at the Legal Aid Board.
He is to appear again on March 16.
Spectators who packed the court to capacity showed signs of disappointment after Jordan left the dock.
"You bastard," whispered one man.
Jordaan had six policemen surrounding him in the dock for protection.
Clean shaven and wearing a faded blue shirt, Jordaan looked calm as he left for the holding cell.
Accused looked calm
As he was driven away many of the crowd that had been there since early morning chased the car as far as they could, shouting: "Maak hom dood! (Kill him!)"
Jordaan could not be seen through the windows of the car as he kept low to avoid the angry taunts of the protesters.
Court 1, where he appeared, was packed to capacity with reporters and the public jostling for position.
Those who could not get inside flocked to the doors of Court 1 for a peek at Jordaan through window panes in the doors as proceedings got underway.
Many expressed emotions that were a mixture of excitement and sadness. After a quick view, many protesters were in tears.
They took turns to look through the glass in the door, while Marelise Wessels, a former pupil at Laerskool Tuinrand which Sheldean attended, climbed on her husband's back for a better view through another, higher window.
Didn't look remorseful
"He doesn't even look remorseful. He is enjoying the attention," she said as she peered through the window.
Hundreds of people started gathering outside the court buildings hours before Jordaan appeared.
Protesters singing outside the building could be heard in the corridors on the fourth floor.
Many protesters were dressed in pink tops and jeans. Sheldean, who was found murdered in the city this week, was dressed in a pink top and jeans when she went missing on February 18.
Placards among the crowd called for the death penalty.
One read: "Gee hom doodstraf of vir die publiek." (Give him the death penalty or give him to the public).
Dangling from the placard was a pink shirt and a pair of denim pants.
Another placard carried by a man blowing a vuvuzela read: "Mr Mbeki: Hang the bastard, please!!!"
Other placards displayed hangman's nooses.
Pink top protest
The majority of the crowd was white Afrikaans speakers, although a vocal black contingent toyi-toyied, and sang the national anthem and ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma's trademark song "Umshini wami."
Professional athlete and Olympic medallist Llewellyn Herbert joined the call for re-instating the death penalty.
Also wearing a pink shirt and jeans, Herbert said: "We are sick and tired of crime. The death penalty should definitely come back."
The pink-top-and-jeans protest was arranged by an anti-child-crime non-profit organisation, the Pink Ladies.
Musicians and sports celebrities laid flowers in memory of Sheldean during the gathering in protest of children being victims of crime.
The noisy protest turned quiet and sombre for a moment as AfriForum's Kallie Kriel addressed the crowd and introduced rugby players Richard Bands, Jannie Brooks and Willem Strauss.
Together with musicians Mel Botes, Adam Tas, Elizma Theron and MD Greyling, they also laid roses.
Pikkie van Amstel, the headmaster of Laerskool Tuinrand, called on people to give their children safety and freedom.
"When you go home, take hands together, mother and father, and go to church on Sunday. That is where children's happiness begins."
Van Amstel said children needed to play, walk barefoot and be happy.
Speaking to Sapa after Jordaan's appearance Dirk Herman, deputy general secretary of Solidarity said: "Domestic abuse crimes deserve harsh penalties.
"What made people so emotional was that the family knew the man accused of the crime. Communities in poorer areas are so much more vulnerable to this sort of thing.
"People live communally. The mother and father often both work and there may be any number of family living in a home."
Herman said Solidarity would soon launch a 365-day campaign against violence committed against children.
"You can have sensors and alarms, but they can't protect children against family and friends."
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