Our family and community have lived with fear, violence, threats and intimidation for years. We are asking the authorities to take these reports seriously and to protect the people who are being threatened.

For many years, a member of our family has subjected us to violence, intimidation and abuse. When we were children, he would return home in the early hours of the morning and threaten us with a knife. He has beaten my brother numerous times, verbally abused my late grandmother and caused deep emotional trauma within our family.

He has also caused serious damage to my grandmother’s property, including breaking all the windows around the yard.

In 2024, our cousin, who is now 21 years old, reported an extremely serious incident involving an attempted rape and attempted murder. He was released on R1,000 bail, and the case has continued to be postponed. The next court date is currently scheduled for 21 September 2026, and our family is desperately hoping that the matter will finally move forward.

Our cousin’s education has already been severely affected by the trauma. and despite everything she has experienced, she has continued trying to rebuild her life.

In the early hours of Tuesday, 01 September 2026, he  went to intimidate our cousin again. The police were called, but he was not found at the time.

In the morning of that same day, 1 September 2026, our cousin went to school. Her principal accompanied her to the police station because of the seriousness of what had happened. Police subsequently arrested him.

However, he was released by the magistrate on Friday, 04 September 2026. During the proceedings, he allegedly told the magistrate that the reason for his arrest was simply that his family was fighting with him over the house. He also admitted before the magistrate that he uses crystal methamphetamine, according to our understanding of what was said in court.

Since his return, the threats and intimidation has continued.

He has threatened to kill members of our family, including my mother, my brother and his other siblings. He has also threatened to kill my mother specifically because she helped our cousin report the attempted rape and open the criminal case.

This is no longer only a family matter.

The community is also afraid.

Community members have reported being frightened by his behaviour and alleged threats. We have been told that he makes threats about raping women and children, goes around carrying weapons, and allegedly takes alcohol from taverns.

The community has had enough.

Our concern is not based on one isolated incident. We understand that he has appeared in court and faced cases on numerous occasions, although, to our knowledge, he has not been convicted in those matters. We are not asking the public to decide that he is guilty. We are asking why repeated reports, threats and incidents have not resulted in lasting protection for the people who are afraid of him.

We are exhausted.

We are scared that one day a threat will become a reality.

We are asking the relevant authorities to:

Take every reported threat against our family and community seriously.
Investigate all allegations of violence, intimidation, threats and property damage.
Ensure that our cousin, her family and other threatened people receive appropriate protection.
Investigate the alleged threats against my mother for helping our cousin report the attempted rape.
Ensure that all applicable bail conditions and protection measures are properly enforced.
Ensure that the 2024 criminal case proceeds without unnecessary delays.
Investigate reports concerning threats against women and children in the community.
Properly investigate reports of weapons being carried and other alleged criminal activity.
Keep victims and affected family members informed about the progress of their cases.
Provide appropriate support to our cousin, whose education and wellbeing have already been severely affected by years of trauma.
How much more must a family endure before someone listens?

Do we really have to wait until somebody is seriously injured or killed before these threats are taken seriously?

We are asking for protection before another tragedy happens.

We are asking for justice.

We are asking for accountability.

We are asking for our family and our community to be allowed to live without fear.

Please stand with us.

Sign this petition to demand that the authorities take these reports seriously and act to protect the people who are at risk.

Enough is enough.