The longest-running murder trial in South Africa: A call for justice for Cyntheria Rex

Cyntheria Rex's life mattered and her family has the right to see justice.

These are the words of Ilitha Labantu, an organisation that advocates for the rights of women and children, as the longest running murder case in a regional court in South Africa continues to drag. 

Rex was 17 years old when she was raped and stabbed to death more than 30 times in 2009 in Kraaifontein by a group of seven young men. 

The case has been postponed nearly 130 times during its time on the court roll and is believed to be the longest-running trial in history in South Africa.

Virgil Sass, Oswill Grootboom, Imeraan Hendricks, Lee Cloete, and Rhonwan Rhode were convicted in November 2024 of Rex's murder, while two of the accused – Warren Robertson and Keenan Lewis, have since died.

A sentencing date was scheduled to be decided on June 20, but instead, news arrived that the judicial team were incapacitated, once again dashing the hopes of the family to see the end of the case. 

DA Member on the Select Committee on Security, Nicholas Gotsell, has since asked Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, in a National Assembly question session, why sentencing in the 16-year-old court case was not prioritised, and what interventions were made to finalise it.

The minister confirmed the case was postponed a shocking 128 times.

In response to Gotsell, Kubayi said the reasons for the delay was due to the accused and systematic reasons, relating to lawyers and Judicare, magistrate absenteeism, witnesses and typed court records.

Earlier this week, the Cape Argus reported that the magistrate was hospitalised, along with a Judicare official.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the sentencing was unable to proceed in the Strand Magistrate's Court on June 20, due to the magistrate and Judicare lawyer being admitted to hospital. 

He said it was postponed to July 11.

Gotsell wrote to the ministry, asking: “Why are the report arrangements for the sentencing procedures in certain cases not prioritised in a matter that has been on the court roll since 2009?"

In response, the ministry said: “Requests for the pre-sentencing reports were done at the behest and discretion of the presiding officer. These reports could only have been requested and facilitated after the accused were convicted on November 29. The probation officer mandated to compile the reports indicated that it was difficult to assess the accused for the necessary consultations due to them being in custody after their conviction. The reports were made available in March 2025 and the matter was postponed to May 2025.”

Queries sent to Kubayi's office await a response.

Siya Monakali of Ilitha Labantu, said: “Ilitha Labantu calls on the judiciary to urgently appoint an alternative presiding officer to conclude sentencing. We further call on the Department of Justice to prioritise the resourcing and strengthening of the courts to prevent future delays of this magnitude.”

Rex's mother, Jacqueline Rex, this week said she was trusting in God for the case to be finalised.

During judgment, the magistrate detailed how the group had all played a role in her death following a party at Sass’s home and had tried to get rid of the body by throwing it over the wall and when they were not successful they placed her into a wheelie bin and dumped her body onto a field.

DNA evidence including a crucial testimony from a witness sealed the men’s fate.

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Cape Argus