Mom 'killer' in court

THE Callas Foundation has petitioned the Wynberg Magistrates Court to deny a bail application by the man accused of strangling his girlfriend to death in his home. 

Protestors gathered outside the court last week as Joshua Cloete made his second appearance for the brutal murder of mom of six Moerieda Adams on 18 January.

Callas director Caroline Peters says during his appearance on Thursday the case was postponed to 3 April. 

In a letter submitted to the court the foundation says Cloete has proven he is a flight risk and may evade his trial if released on bail. 

The organisation also states that the murders of women in South Africa should be regarded as a national crisis. 

Peters says: "The murder of women in South Africa is a national crisis. Our country has one of the highest rates of femicide globally, with women being killed at a rate five times higher than the global average.

"According to the 2023/2024 SAPS Crime Statistics a total of 1 165 women were murdered in the last recorded quarter alone. There were 1 514 attempted murders of women were reported in the same period and 15 845 sexual offences cases were recorded, with a majority of victims being women.

"The reality behind these statistics is that women like Moerieda Adams are not just numbers; they are mothers, daughters, and community members whose lives are taken in acts of extreme violence.

"Perpetrators of femicide should not be granted bail, as they represent an ongoing threat to the safety of women and society."