The court’s decision to reject Charles Appolis’ Section 174 application has been met with approval by the crime and justice activist group Action Society. This ruling ensures that the man accused of murdering Nadia Lotz will take the stand when the trial resumes on 19 and 20 January 2026. The case, which has captured public attention, revolves around the tragic events of 4 March 2023, when Lotz was stabbed multiple times and had her throat slit, reportedly by Appolis, her boyfriend.

According to the evidence presented in court, Nadia was a passenger in a vehicle, driven by a friend, when an alleged desperate attack unfolded. Positioned behind her, Appolis is said to have leaned forward and launched the fatal assault. In a heart-stopping bid for survival, Nadia leapt from the moving car, only to collapse on the road, succumbing to her injuries in the arms of a Good Samaritan. This shattering account emerged as several witnesses shared their harrowing experiences during the trial, which commenced in July 2025.

The driver of the vehicle and a close friend of Nadia’s, the first witness to testify, described her effort to manage the chaotic situation. She recounted how she struggled to fend off the attack while trying to maintain control of the car. In a startling twist, the defence sought to shift the blame onto her, alleging that she was romantically interested in Appolis and thus stood to gain by harming Nadia—a claim she categorically denied.

The testimony of another eyewitness, a mother who happened to be driving behind the vehicle, further illustrated the scene of chaos. She recounted watching someone fall from the moving car and rushed to provide assistance, only to discover Nadia gravely injured and bleeding. Her desperate attempts to save Nadia were tragically in vain, as the victim succumbed at the scene.

A former South African Police Service Warrant Officer also took the stand, providing crucial evidence and confirming details of the crime scene. He described having photographed both the vehicle involved and the accused, highlighting injuries on Appolis’ hands and legs, along with extensive bloodstains found within the vehicle. The submission of the post-mortem report and crime scene photographs has reinforced the prosecution’s case against Appolis.

Appolis’ defence team sought to leverage a Section 174 application at the conclusion of the State’s case, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to warrant a trial. However, the magistrate rejected their claim, emphasising that sufficient evidence had been presented to proceed. This firm stance reaffirms the commitment to ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence.

Kaylynn Palm, Head of Action Centre at Action Society, commended the court’s decision. “Victims of gender-based violence and their families deserve persistence, not procedural games,” she stated. “The magistrate’s firm refusal to dismiss this case sends a message of accountability and resolve. For nearly three years, Nadia’s family has endured postponement after postponement, each one reopening their trauma. Today’s decision restores some hope that justice will be served and that the system has not forgotten Nadia.”

Action Society remains resolute in its support for Nadia’s family and continues to advocate for expedited prosecutions in cases of intimate partner violence across South Africa, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.

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