Man accused of murdering Cape Magistrate awaits place to be evaluated at Valkenberg psychiatric hospital

The case against Cassidy Hartzenberg, the man who accused of murdering the Cape Town Magistrate, Romay van Rooyen, has been postponed until 25 August. He appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday for a pretrial hearing.

The court heard on Friday that staff at Pollsmoor Prison were unable to locate Hartzenberg that morning. He was apparently moved from the Medium-A section to another section.

Erasmus was bitterly unhappy about the "missing" Hartzenberg and ordered the state and the police to go find him at the prison and bring him to court. He said he was looking for explanations, because it was clear that prison authorities had not obeyed an order.

"We know from previous appearances what his mental state is and that he has suicidal tendencies. We do not know what his mental state is now and whether the section where he is now is suitable for his detention."

He went on to say that he could only imagine the anxiety that Hartzenberg's mother was experiencing as she sat in the public gallery. "To sit here and wonder 'where is my child?'"

Hartzenberg was finally brought to court after 12:00 on Friday after the investigating officers themselves went to collect him from the prison.

Hartzenberg's mother, father and sister were in court on Friday morning.

At Hartzenberg's previous appearance on 26 May, Erasmus ordered that Pollsmoor Prison be informed of Hartzenberg's suicidal tendencies and that he be monitored until he can be admitted.

The decision followed after dr. Esmé Antoinette Swanepoel, a district physician at the Victoria Hospital, evaluated him and made a preliminary diagnosis that Hartzenberg was suffering from a mood disorder and that he had tried to take his own life. She found that he also suffers from a psychotic disorder and has abused drugs.

Swanepoel recommended that he be referred to the Valkenberg psychiatric hospital and that he receive "urgent psychiatric attention".

Bush Radio News previously reported that a medical report submitted to the court in May indicated that Hartzenberg had a drug problem and had tried to take his own life twice.

The reason for the postponement is so that Hartzenberg waits for a place in the Valkenberg psychiatric hospital, where he must be admitted for psychological evaluation.

He will remain in custody in the hospital section of Pollsmoor Prison.

Hartzenberg was arrested a few days after 50 year-old Van Rooyen was found strangled to death in her Marina Da Gama home, in September 2022. Hartzenberg was arrested in Mitchells Plain, after Van Rooyen’s vehicle was found on Highland’s Drive.

The 19-year-old Hartzenberg, who is a relative of the victim, faces charges of murder and theft.

Done By: Mitchum George