Pretty Mahlangu family calls for stronger charges against woman accused of running her over
Martha van der Walt appeared briefly before the Germiston Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed, owing to outstanding evidence.
Community members and supporters of Pretty Mahlangu outside the Germiston Magistrate's Court on 20 August 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The family of 13-year-old Pretty Mahlangu, who died during a celebration in Germiston, is calling for stronger charges against the woman accused of running the teen over with her car.
Martha van der Walt appeared briefly before the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed, owing to outstanding evidence.
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Tensions boiled over outside the court after proceedings, with the family visibly angered by the delay.
Van der Walt was in the dock, wearing a white beanie, black face mask, and scarf, completely covering herself from the cameras.
She is currently out on bail while the matter is under further investigation.
The decision to postpone left the teen’s family angered, as spokesperson Mzandile Soyaya explained: "The family is not happy, you know, as I've alluded initially, as I was speaking that we are hoping for the charge to be changed."
Mahlangu died from her injuries in June after Van der Walt rammed her car into a group of young girls as they celebrated a coming-of-age ceremony in Germiston.
Soyaya said the family was hoping that when proceedings continued in September, all outstanding evidence would be collected so the case can move forward.