The family of slain Tazne van Wyk of Ravensmead have denied media reports that they intend to sue the State after the eight-year-old girl died at the hands of convicted child killer Moehydien Pangaker.
Tazne’s aunt and family spokesperson, Samantha Viljoen, 46, says they got a skrik this week when they read articles claiming they are planning legal action against the State, saying it had not even been discussed yet among the family.
“I saw it on Facebook and myself and Tazne’s mother, Carmen, both got a shock because as a family we never even discussed this yet,” she says.
“We never spoke to anyone, yet the articles claim that Tazne’s family said they will sue.
“We don’t even have a
lawyer so where does this all come from?
“We were so confused because that is the last thing on our minds now, we just buried Tazne and we are still grieving.”
‘STOP SPREADING RUMOURS’: Aunt Samantha Viljoen
Tazne went missing on 7 February when she was snatched just metres away from her home in Clare Street.
Pangaker, 54, was identified as the kidnapper and the man, who has a previous conviction for killing his own son, went on the run.
He evaded police for nearly 10 days but was arrested in Cradock and appeared in the Cradock Magistrates’ Court on kidnapping charges.
He later led cops to a storm water drain in Worcester where he had dumped Tazne’s body and was subsequently charged with her murder.
The girl’s parents were visited by President Cyril Ramaphosa who admitted that a man like Pangaker should never have been released on parole, and he undertook to review the parole system.
BUSTED: Moehydien Pangaker
Viljoen says they are still waiting for Police Minister Bheki Cele to tell them how Tazne was killed.
“At this stage we are preparing for the next court appearance in April and are still waiting on answers about what happened to Tazne,” she says.
“To date we have not received a report of what led to her death.
“We ask that people stop spreading messages and making claims in our name as this makes it look like we are after money.”
Meanwhile, the family of murdered UCT student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, revealed this week that they do intend to sue the SA Post Office as her killer Luyanda Botha was employed by them.
The 19-year-old student was raped and murdered by the teller inside the Clareinch Post Office in August last year.
Botha was sentenced to life in prison.
DEAD: Uyinene Mrwetyana
The family says Botha had a criminal record of which officials were aware of.
He was previously convicted for a carjacking, while a rape case was withdrawn.
The SA Post Office’s acting CEO Ivumile Nongogo confirmed they received a claim from the Mrwetyana family, which was being looked at by lawyers.