The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is deeply disturbed by the tardiness of the Department of Correctional Services after an accused in the Brand family murder trial had the Kimberley High Court on hold today while he was visiting a local bank.

The accused is one of the five suspects arrested for the brutal murder of Dan, Breggie and Elzabie Brand on their farm in Hartswater in July 2020.

The case was already delayed due to a prolonged wait for the DNA results. We cannot tolerate further holdups in the justice system, caused by the irresponsible actions of correctional service officials who facilitated accused number four’s trip to the bank, knowing that the accused had to appear in court. The justice system is already under pressure and there is a huge backlog of cases.

The DA will refer the matter to our national spokesperson of Correctional Services for further follow-up. With the Correctional Services system already under the spotlight following the Thabo Bester escape, we cannot let such a gross insubordination of the justice system pass by unnoticed.

The DA has been monitoring the Brand murder case since the accused’s first court appearance in Hartswater, through the DA’s Court Watching Briefs Unit. We will continue to keep close tabs on the trial, especially undue delays that are preventing justice from being served and the remaining family members from getting closure.

 

Issued by Reinette Liebenberg, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform