Key Points
- Two GBV cases in the Cape have been delayed for months.
- The accused are using legal tricks to avoid trial.
- Action Society is calling for a special police team to handle GBV cases faster.
Two heartbreaking gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the Cape have been delayed for months, leaving victims and their families in distress.
Court dates keep shifting, and justice feels further away with every postponement. The accused are using legal tricks to buy time, while loved ones keep asking: When will justice be served?
Two years and still no justice for Nadia Lotz
On March 4, 2025, it will be two years since the 32-year-old mother of three, Nadia Lotz, was brutally attacked. Her boyfriend, Charles Appollis, slit her throat while they were driving. She died instantly.
Two years later, her family is still waiting for answers.
Appollis has used every excuse to delay the trial. He keeps changing lawyers, forcing the court to postpone hearings. In March 2024, the magistrate warned him to find a lawyer, either privately or through Legal Aid. But in August, he asked for another new lawyer, causing even more delays.
By September, the magistrate had enough. He said the case would only be postponed one last time. If Appollis didn’t have a lawyer at the next hearing, the trial would go on without one.
When Appollis appeared in court again, his lawyer was missing once more. The prosecutor was frustrated, saying he had plenty of time to prepare.
The magistrate told Appollis to stop wasting time. The case was postponed again on February 19, 2025. It will be back in court on March 19, but not for trial.
A 16-year-old girl fights for justice
In another case, a 16-year-old girl was almost killed by her ex-boyfriend in July 2023. Even though she had a protection order against him, he kept following her. On July 17, he stabbed her in the head, trying to kill her.
He appeared in the Paarl Regional Court on February 11, 2025. But instead of going to trial, the case was delayed again. Now, the court date is set for March 14.
Action Society demands faster justice
A group called Action Society is fighting for change. Kaylynn Palm, who leads the group’s Action Centre, says something must be done now.
“GBV cases are taking too long. We need a special police team to handle them faster. We are working with SAPS to speed up investigations and help victims get justice sooner,” Palm said.
These delays are painful for victims and their families. Survivors live in fear, while families grieve without closure. Many are asking: How long will they have to wait for justice?
