Days after six-year-old Delvina Europa was laid to rest, her suspected rapist and killer has abandoned his bail application.
About 100 protesters gathered outside the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday where Reagan Zietsman, 35, was set to apply for bail.
People travelled from as far as Cape Town to oppose his release.
But Zietsman’s lawyer, Daniel van der Merwe, dropped a bombshell when he informed the court his client would not apply for bail.
He said they also needed time to prepare for Zietsman’s appearance at the Regional Court.
Van der Merwe did not give reasons why Zietsman chose to stay in jail.
The matter was postponed to 6 May for further investigation, confirmed Eric Ntabazalila, spokesman for the provincial National Prosecuting Authority.
Cape Town community activist, Venetia Orgill, also protested outside court.
MANG: Reagan Zietsman
Venetia wore chains, symbolising the women and children who are being “held prisoner” by rape and murder in the Western Cape.
“We opposed his bail. I was chained up because this is happening too frequently where women and children are being raped. We hope that he does not change his mind in the future (about bail),” Venetia tells the Daily Voice.
Little Delvina was laid to rest on Saturday.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the cemetery in Elim as Delvina’s tiny white coffin was carried in.
The child had been in the care of her aunt, Carol October, since December 2018, after her mother passed away suddenly.
FINAL FAREWELL: Mourners pay last respects to the little girl
Delvina, who was in Grade 1 at the Elim Moravian Primary School, was last seen by Carol on Sunday, 24 March, at 4pm, playing in front of a neighbour’s home in Nuwe Street in Elim.
Delvina was reported missing on Monday and, on Tuesday morning, community members found her lifeless body in the bush.
Authorities have yet to reveal how the little girl was killed.
Zietsman is known to the family and lives close by.
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za