Family and friends of the late Denver Pitts, 38, who died after he was allegedly stabbed by his girlfriend on Sunday December 22, 2024, have drawn up a petition opposing her bail application, which is scheduled for Thursday January 23 at the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court.
According to his sister Michelle Essack, Mr Pitts was stabbed in his Tafelsig wendy house, which he shared with his girlfriend of several years.
“On Saturday December 21, she [allegedly] threatened that she would see to it that he is dead by the end of that weekend. The Sunday morning after 9am, one of the residents came to tell me that she stabbed him.
“We are petitioning bail because she has been in jail before and has a criminal record,” Ms Essack alleged.
“I know Tafelsig has a bad reputation for men doing all kinds of things but my brother was loved by many people. When people asked him for a favour, he didn’t know how to say no.
“He had a sense of humour and always had a smile on his face. He would give his last for his kids and for my kids.
“He worked for his kids and for her to take their breadwinner is heartsore. Why should she be with her family when his kids will never see him again?” she said.
Ms Essack said Mr Pitts, who is survived by his two children and three siblings, was a victim of gender-based violence.
“This was not the first time she stabbed him, it is the third time. Unfortunately, he never laid any charges against her. We often just see articles about women being murdered and abused by partners, but in this case my brother was killed by his girlfriend,” she further alleged.
Ms Essack urged men who are in abusive situations to speak out and seek help.
“Most men have too much pride. They don’t speak about being ill-treated or don’t have enough information and don’t go forward to make cases.
“I would tell men who are in the same situation as my brother to speak out. There is help out there,” she said.
The Plainsman reached out to the police and National Prosecuting Authority for comment but did not receive any feedback at the time of going to print.