Cape Town - The family of slain magistrate Romay van Rooyen have detailed their last moments with her before she was found murdered in her Marina da Gama home in Muizenberg in a crime that has been described as senseless.
She was discovered by her brother on Saturday after she did not answer her phone. Her stolen vehicle was found abandoned in Mitchells Plain, but no suspects have been arrested.
While Van Rooyen, 50, who was based at the Vredendal Magistrate’s Court, was involved in high-profile cases, there were no security concerns prior to the murder incident, according to the family.
Speaking to the media outside her home during Police Minister Bheki Cele’s visit on Thursday, Van Rooyen’s brother Tasswell van Rooyen said his younger brother went to the home on Saturday after making arrangements for her to pick her nephew up.
He suspected something was amiss when her calls were not being answered. “They kept calling and it went straight to voicemail and this was odd.
They came to the house with her spare key as they looked after her home while she was in Vredenburg during the week. Her cellphone was on the floor and everything was still intact but she was lying flat on her back,” said Van Rooyen.
“I am no detective and I don’t work for the SAPS but my logic says this could not have been just a robbery because all her valuables are still there (in her home).
“They (suspects) just needed a getaway vehicle and took her car. And when her vehicle was found, the ID and house keys of her home in Langebaan were still there.
Nothing was taken in Langebaan,” said Van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen said they would remember their sister for her willingness to assist and looked forward to celebrating her life, which she dedicated to fighting for justice.
“As much as this is a loss for us, this is a loss to the justice system as they lost a passionate, dedicated person that was going to help in the fight against crime. I just want to celebrate her life.
She worked tirelessly for the criminal justice system and her murder is a huge indictment on our system,” said Van Rooyen.
“That’s the thing about her, she’s a professional. She never ever disclosed any information.
“She is a consummate professional. I once tried to speak to her about the Henri van Breda case and (she divulged) no information,” he said.
The family said they were “dumbstruck” by her murder and were yet to receive findings of the post-mortem report.
Van Rooyen’s funeral is planned for Saturday, September 24. Her case has since been handed to the Hawks, said Cele.
He said members of the judiciary were “protected” and safety concerns raised would be addressed “broadly” during a media briefing expected to be held today.
“This is a serious concern and is an attack on the state itself and the integrity of the state and we have to respond as to how far we will take matters to protect those who are supposed to protect us, including the police. I think this is a province where more police protect police,” said Cele.
He said he was pleased that the Hawks had taken over the investigation following an assessment.
Enquiries to the Hawks were not answered by deadline on Wednesday. Western Cape Police Forum Board spokesperson, Mark Lintnaar, said they agreed with Justice Minister Ronald Lamola that Van Rooyen’s murder was “senseless”.
“We stand firm in our mandate as the CPF to fight all forms of injustice and crime against our community and our leaders.
“This is just one where we want SAPS to do their work to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book so that an example can be made to those who think they can take the law into their own hands by senselessly killing somebody in service of the community,” said Lintnaar.
Regional co-ordinator of the United Public Safety Front, Imraahn Mukaddam, said the murder reflected how criminals believed they were “untouchable”.
“The murder of magistrate is a direct attack on the judiciary and the justice system. This is another indication that criminals believe they are untouchable and that they can instil fear even into the hearts of those tasked with dispensing justice. As a democracy this form of terrorism can not be tolerated, we have to ensure that our judges and magistrates are able to function without fear or favour. It seems that soon it will be imperative to put in place the same protection and safety mechanisms to protect our judiciary,” said Mukaddam.
Cape Times