Cape Town - The mother of missing German tourist, along with family and friends have begun a worldwide campaign known as the Green Monkey to signify their never-ending quest to find Nick Frischke.
As the campaign continues, the trial against four alleged 28s gang members accused of robbing Frischke and other residents remains closed to the public at the Wynberg Regional Court and is being held in camera due to concerns for State witnesses.
Eric Ntabazalila of the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the matter was still being held in camera but would be open to the public as of next week.
Ishaam Fischer, Melvin Geunantin, Vanroy Petersen and Carlo Geunanin made an appearance at the Wynberg Regional Court yesterday.
“The State will call the Hout Bay Station Commander to testify and the court will be open to the members of the public including the media,” he explained.
The case was postponed to November 29, 2024.
The group faces charges relating to Frischke including a number of robberies which allegedly took place in Hout Bay.
The first batch of witnesses is understood to be victims of the other robberies they are allegedly linked to.
The charges include robbery, housebreaking, firearm and ammunition-related charges and POCA, (Prevention of Organised Crime) and they have since pleaded not guilty despite the presence of DNA in some instances according to a report by IOL news.
Frischke, who has been missing for nearly two years, disappeared while hiking on the Hangberg trail along Hout Bay and Sandy Bay.
The State is set to prove that the alleged gang members robbed Frischke of his personal belongings such as his Redmi Note 8 Pro cell phone and backpack.
Nick's mother, Jana told Weekend Argus the Green Monkey campaign was a symbol of hope.
“We do not want to give up on Nick,” she said.
She did not want to comment about the case due to the sensitive nature of it.
Jana said the green monkey was chosen to symbolise Nick's favourite colour and his love for climbing.
The monkey figure was designed and is now sold with a missing person's flyer and is found all over the world including Germany, some of which have travelled with friends or family who are spreading the message.
“Green is Nick's favourite colour,” she said.
“Nick is sporty, likes climbing, used the swing bar at home to do pull-ups or climbed on it and has long arms. Sometimes we jokingly said that he was our little monkey. Also, at the start of school, Nick got a monkey on his sugar cone, which is his cuddly toy.”
Jana also took to social media a week ago expressing her pain and agony of not finding her son.
She wrote: “My dear Nick, I have missed you for 90 weeks now. There are always very, very difficult days. Please keep your eyes and ears open for my Nick!
“It's just a terrible, hard time and I finally want to know where my Nick is! I miss his conversations with me so much and I really want to see him again.
“Please help us, keep sharing and the monkeys want to continue travelling to look for Nick.
“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us since February 2023 and continues to support us in whatever form. “
The monkey was designed with a 3D printer.
“My partner prints these with a 3D printer. We usually send them throughout Germany.
“Dear people then took these monkeys with them on their journey or sent them on a journey. These monkeys are supposed to wander and find Nick,” Jana told Weekend Argus.
Jana shared that the monkey number six had travelled from Malta to Stellenbosch, South Africa and another batch from Berlin to Lufthansa and three more from Zurich to Cape Town.
Kez Weid, who has been campaign for Frischke to be found explained how it works: “You cannot buy a monkey, they are made by Dirk, Jana’s partner in Germany and the tourists bring them to Cape Town and all over the world where they travel to.”