Unsolved murders still haunt relatives

KNYSNA NEWS - Question marks still hang over a great many unsolved Knysna murders since 2009. According to reliable information there are nearly 80 unsolved murders from the period 2009 to 2013.

It was also during this time that the controversial Emmerentia Witbooi (31) murder took place.

On July 27, 2012, Witbooi disappeared from her parents' home in Charlie Levack Street, Hornlee. The search for Witbooi evoked much emotion among community members who claimed at the time that the police were not doing enough to find her.

Her naked body was eventually found in Chapel Street near the Hornlee Clinic on August 5 that year, after family and community members and Knysna's executive mayor Georlene Wolmarans mobilised themselves in the search for the missing mother.

It was alleged that only once there had been a public outcry and when Wolmarans demanded action be taken immediately, did officers of the Knysna Fire Brigade and Law Enforcement start to help with the extensive search in and around Hornlee for a woman who would sadly turn out to be another murder victim.

Nobody was ever convicted for Witbooi's death, even after people close to her told the Western Cape minister of Police, Dan Plato that the killer was known to the police. Plato met with community members and relatives of other unsolved murder victims in Knysna on March 13, 2014. Wolmarans also attended the meeting in Knysna, where the traumatised family members expressed their concerns about the police's investigations into the unsolved murder cases.

In letters in the Knysna-Plett Herald's possession, Minister Plato's office wrote to Premier Helen Zille and Wolmarans on March 19, 2014 (after the meeting in Knysna): "Kindly note that Mr Plato has yet again written to the Commissioner [At that time Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer] requesting a response by March 26, 2014.

Unfortunately, all of his letters to date have gone unanswered." (This letter's reference is 2012/7295 and the mayor's reference is 224421 and 10/2/2.)

In another letter, referenced MCS 2012/7295 with the subject, Disappearance of Emmerentia Witbooi and Conduct of SAPS Knysna, dated March 19, 2014, MEC Plato wrote to Lamoer: "I regrettably have not received any response to my letters to you on 15 August 2012 and 1 March 2013, one and a half years later.

Kindly note that executive mayor of Knysna, Councillor Wolmarans, continues to experience problems with receiving follow-up information, despite the fact that she had been one of the parties to discover the body of the girl. No feedback has been provided on this case and the community continue to ask for a response."

Plato expressed his concern that Lieutenant-Colonel (Chris) Manevick has been requested to attend meetings with the mayor on several occasions so that such feedback could be provided. MEC Plato wrote: "Lieutenant-Colonel Manevick, I am informed, confirmed attendance however failed to arrive for any of the meetings scheduled." Plato described this as unacceptable.

Plato further wrote: "SAPS Knysna appear to have been unresponsive and did not follow up on vital information which could have led to the discovery of the body days earlier, which still has not been answered for. Your lack of response to two of my letters as well as correspondence from Councillor Wolmarans appears to indicate a lack of willingness to take any action in this regard and the complacency in this very poor service delivery by the South African Police in Knysna.

"I yet again request information on your findings on what action will be taken against those responsible and what remedial steps will be followed to prevent a similar occurrence."

On June 29 this year, the Knysna-Plett Herald met with some of the visibly heart-broken family members of Knysna's unsolved murder victims. During the meeting they told the Knysna-Plett Herald that the Knysna Police are more interested in who their (the family members') sources are, whom they believe will be "victimised", than they are in actually solving the murders.

The Knysna SAPS communication officer, Sergeant Chris Spies was asked to respond to some of the allegations by people who attended the meeting, as well as on issues mentioned in Plato's letters.

Spies commented: "Investigation into murder cases has always been a priority for the Knysna Police. The allegation that 77 murder cases have not been solved in Knysna is untrue and without foundation. This is in accordance with our official records available.

"A process is already in place to give regular feedback directly to the affected families. The feedback includes the status of the investigations. We respect the affected families and would rather use these formal platforms to communicate with them.

"It is very unfortunate that the matter of Emmerentia Witbooi is once again in the spotlight. We can confirm that feedback with regards to this investigation was given to the family on June 12 at 10:37. The family may liaise directly with the investigation officers to raise their concerns. This investigation has not been finalised and statements of possible witnesses were taken recently.

"The Knysna Police are not in a position to respond to the alleged comments from the office of the member of the Executive Council of the Western Cape."

On Monday, July 20, Hendrik Luiters, Witbooi's stepfather, denied that the police made any contact with them. "All we heard is that the investigating officer is now working at the Knysna Court."

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