Anti-GBV petition secures over 5k signatures to block Mervyn Bock bail bid

An anti-gender-based violence (GBV) petition in Knysna has secured over 5,000 signatures to block the bail bid of a man accused of killing his girlfriend. 
 
Mervyn Bock allegedly killed his 39-year-old partner, Velia Strydom, in December and dumped her body in the bushes near Knysna's iconic red bridge.

Bock made a brief appearance in court on Monday. His bail application was postponed to Wednesday.

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Community members submitted a hard copy petition, with more than 1,000 signatures to the court to oppose Bock's bail.

Strydom's body was found in a shallow grave in Knysna days before Christmas. 
 
It's the State's case that Strydom's boyfriend killed her and tried to deter a search for the woman by pretending to be her in text messages to her friends and family.

Family spokesperson Warrick Langisa said that relatives and community members picket outside court at every hearing.
 
"With the support of our community, and of course our local GBV movement, we picket before court every morning, and even after court, and that helps a lot. And that's why we could even to present to court, and that was also taken in as an exhibit."

Bock's final bail bid is expected to be heard on Friday.