Slain Cape magistrate’s alleged murderer carried her coffin to her grave

The 18-year-old, accused of murdering Vredenburg magistrate Romay van Rooyen, was among a handful of relatives who carried her coffin to her final resting place at her funeral this past Saturday.

Cassidy Hartzenberg made a brief appearance at a packed Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning, where he was charged with murder.

Surrounded by a courtroom full of armed cops as well as the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Hartzenberg could be seen staring blankly in front of him while proceedings were underway.

Hartzenberg, who is said to be the nephew of the slain 53-year-old, was arrested at his home on Mitchells Plain on Tuesday after a multi-disciplinary operation comprising of the Hawks’ Crimes against the State Unit, National Priority Violent crime Investigation, Digital Forensic Investigation and Priority Crime Management Centre.

According to tributes read out at her funeral last week, Van Rooyen loved her nieces and nephews and would do anything for them. She was the eldest of six children.

During the funeral, Hartzenberg was seen staring blankly ahead while sitting next to relatives.

Cele said they were confident they had found the right suspect.

"While it's good that somebody has been arrested, it's a pity that it is a relative of the deceased,” he said to reporters outside of court.

Van Rooyen’s body was found on September 10 at her Marina Da Gama home.

According to police sources, Van Rooyen was strangled to death.

Her Toyota Rav4 was found a day later, abandoned with its keys still inside on Jakes Gerwel Drive close to Mitchells Plain.

Hartzenberg indicated he would be applying for bail.

The matter was postponed to October 6 for further bail information.