MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay family of the murdered York High School alumnus Dr Nicholas Procter (39) said they have been kept in the dark regarding the investigation and court case, and had had no idea the trial against the three accused of his murder was set to start last week.
Procter's mother, Margaret Vorster, and his grandmother, Jeannette Hoffe, who both live in Heiderand, Mossel Bay, claim they have had to get updates from the local media regarding the court proceedings, and that the calls and WhatsApps to the prosecutor and the investigating officer on the case have largely gone unanswered.
Procter, an associate of the Nelanest Anaesthetic Association at Mediclinic Nelspruit, was found dead in a block of flats in Green Valley Estate, Mbombela, on the afternoon of 1 February 2024.
According to Lowvelder reports, his hands and feet had been bound.
Procter was due to celebrate his 40th birthday later that month.
Dr Nicholas Procter enjoyed the outdoors. Photo: Facebook
On 5 February 2024, three men, Bheki Ndlovu (38), Nkateko Tshidzumba (24) and Siyabonga Kekana (20), were arrested in Protea Glen in Soweto, in connection with Procter's murder. They have since appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court multiple times.
A fourth accused is still at large.
Speaking to Mossel Bay Advertiser about the case, Vorster and Hoffe said they do not hear anything from the investigating officer or prosecutor about what is going on with the case, and that they only learnt that the three men had been due to appear in court last Wednesday, 20 August, on the local newspaper Lowvelder's Facebook page.
"We don't know what is going on, we don't have any answers. We send WhatsApps and have tried calling the investigating officer and prosecutor, but no one answers," said Vorster.
"In the beginning of this year, we did get some feedback from the investigating officer. He said the fourth accused in the case has not yet been arrested. But after that, we have heard nothing."
Procter's father, Malcolm, echoed the mother and grandmother's grievances. He said he had not received any feedback, either.
Dr Nicholas Procter was a lover of nature. Photo: Facebook
Malcolm said he also learns through the media when the case is back in court and when it has been postponed. He wants to attend the trial, but says when he does travel to do that, it only gets postponed again.
"We live so far away, so to travel there only for it to get postponed is quite demoralising," he said.
Response
In response to the Mossel Bay Advertiser's queries about the state of the case and why Procter's family has not been kept updated on it, or what channels should be followed to stay updated, the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority's spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said the matter was set for trial on 12 September.
She said the trial had been postponed as one of the accused's legal representatives was on sick leave.
Nyuswa confirmed the fourth accused was still at large, but that there is a warrant out for him.
By the time of going to press, the Mpumalanga Police had not responded to the Advertiser's queries regarding Procter's family not being updated on the investigation and court proceedings.
Remembering Nicholas
"I only found out after he died how much he had done for so many other people," said Vorster.
"He was always there for us, but I found out from colleagues at his funeral that he had helped a sister pay her children's school fees.
"One of his friends, a doctor working overseas, told me at the funeral that Nic had helped pay his university fees so he could finish his studies and graduate. He helped a lot of people, and many animals. He kept quiet about these things," she said.
Dr Nicholas Procter loved to help animals. Photo: Facebook
Vorster reminisced about his kind nature, his love of the outdoors and his time spent with friends, and shared some fond memories from Procter's childhood.
"He definitely loved to make the world a better place," said Hoffe.
Malcolm said his son was an independent man, well respected by his colleagues and loved by his family. "He was quite devoted to his mum and dad," he said.
"As a parent, you try to get your children up and going to live their lives, to be independent. I think Nic did that quite well."
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