Mapaballo Borotho
- Martha van der Walt was granted R5000 bail by the Germiston Magistrate’s Court for the alleged culpable homicide of 13-year-old Pretty Mahlangu.
- The incident, caught on video, shows Van der Walt’s vehicle driving into a group of girls during a coming-of-age ceremony in June.
- Mahlangu’s family says they are disappointed but not surprised by the bail decision and accuse police of mishandling the case from the start.
The Germiston Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to the woman accused of killing 13-year-old Pretty Mahlangu during a cultural ceremony in the east of Johannesburg.
Martha van der Walt appeared before the court on Friday morning and was granted R5000 bail. She faces a charge of culpable homicide following the incident that occurred in June, when she allegedly drove into a crowd of young girls participating in a coming-of-age ceremony.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows a vehicle ploughing into the group and reversing over one of the girls, later confirmed to be Mahlangu.
— CosmoT (@CousinCosmo) July 8, 2025
During court proceedings, Van der Walt’s attorney, Keniel Muthray, argued for bail on the grounds that Martha is a 68-year-old first-time offender who has fully cooperated with law enforcement, including handing herself over to the authorities.
Meanwhile, Mahlangu’s family has expressed deep disappointment with the outcome of the bail hearing – although, they say, they are not surprised.
The family alleges that the case has been mishandled by police from the beginning and says they have lost confidence in the investigation process.
Speaking to Kaya News after the proceedings, family spokesperson Mzwandile Soyaya said the family remains determined to pursue justice and ensure that Pretty’s death does not go unanswered.
The case has been postponed to 20 August for further investigation by the state.
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