Family relieved as alleged killer of Shanice Rudolph remain jailed for Christmas

The family of four-month pregnant Shanice Rudolph, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave at Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park said they breathed a sigh of relief that her alleged killer boyfriend remains behind bars for Christmas.

They said they are awaiting dental and DNA analysis before they can lay her to rest with details emerging that she was choked and beaten with a spade.

Her boyfriend, Ashwin Davids and his co-accused, Mozaid Gasant made an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Rudolph's distraught family, armed with posters to protest his bail release, said they were also preparing a petition.

The men were arrested last week after Rudolph's decomposing body was found buried in a shallow grave at Klip Road Cemetery, on top of a female corpse on December 9.

Rudolph went missing on December 4 and was last seen in Cafda Retreat.

On Thursday, the court heard the men would be proceeding with their bail application with the state opposing it.

The matter was postponed until January 21, 2026 for further bail application.

Rudolph's family who spoke with the Cape Argus following the court proceedings said they were satisfied that the men were going to remain behind bars during the festive season but that they had to wait for the identification process to be completed before they can bury her.

Rudolph's parents are now awaiting dental identification and are expected to do blood DNA analysis as well.

"We feel a bit relieved that they will not come out now," said a family representative.

"The family is busy with a petition to oppose the bail of the accused. "The family went to the mortuary on Monday to do the identification.

"The pathologist told us the body is too decomposed." They will do dental work and DNA which will be sent to the lab." We hope to get the outcome by next week. The parents must go with SAPS soon for the DNA and the wait can take up to two to three weeks." The funeral is delayed now.

"We have to wait for the funeral until after Christmas." The family heard grim details of how Rudolph died: "The pathologist said she was suffocated, choked, there are marks in her neck. "We are also hearing that she was beaten with a spade. "We are asking that these persons not be granted bail."

The state is set to prove that Davids had allegedly roped in the assistance of a man to dig a hole he apparently claimed was for a dog and had paid this person cash to do so.

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