By Jane Bodmer

South Africans gathered in front of the Alexandra Magistrate Court in Johannesburg last week to show support for the family of a two-year-old who was raped and murdered.

Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (ADAPT) has been supporting the family since the child’s murder in September and contacted partner organizations throughout Alexandra Township to attend the Feb. 8 court date. The case was postponed until March 23, when a trial date will be set.

The man accused of raping and murdering the child was a security guard with whom the children were familiar. The only witness is the victim’s 12-year-old sister, whom the family says was forced to watch the attack.