We, the undersigned residents of Tesselaarsdal, submit this petition to respectfully request that Steven De Wet, a habitual offender with numerous prior convictions, be denied bail and that his matter be tried in the Regional Court due to the severity and recurrence of his criminal conduct.

It is well known in the community that whenever Steven is present in Tesselaarsdal, the area experiences a surge in break-ins, assault and other crimes. In contrast, during his periods of incarceration, Tesselaarsdal returns to being a safe, quiet, and peaceful place to live.

We therefore oppose any application for bail. We further request that, should such an application be made, it be firmly denied in the interests of community safety and justice and protection of lawful residents constitutional rights.

There have been other incidents where Steven has assaulted people in the community. However, due to threats and intimidation directed at residents by him and certain family members, many victims and witnesses are too fearful to testify. In the current case before the Court, the person assaulted and a witness has come forward to give evidence despite these risks. We implore the Honourable Magistrate to ensure that this courage is not in vain. Allowing the accused back into the community would endanger this witness and others who may still step forward.

Given  De Wet’s extensive record of prior convictions and the pattern of ongoing criminal behaviour, we respectfully request that:

His case be referred to the Regional Court for trial.
If convicted, all outstanding and previous cases be considered as aggravating factors in sentencing.
A lengthy custodial sentence be imposed to protect the Tesselaarsdal community and uphold justice.
Our community deserves to live without fear, and we ask the Court to take this plea seriously in the interests of public safety and the rule of law and upholding the citizens constitutional rights.

Respectfully submitted,
The Concerned Residents of Tesselaarsdal