Residents of Garies in the Northern Cape are demanding justice after a police officer was arrested following the death of his 27-year-old girlfriend, Farren Maarman.
Maarman died on Sunday morning after an incident in Hoofstraat, Garies. Local residents alleged that she was struck by a vehicle during an argument and that the vehicle drove over her more than once.
The allegations have not been tested in court. Police have registered a culpable-homicide case, while the accused also faces a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has been informed of the incident.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Ivan Magerman initially said he was not aware of a murder case. He later issued a statement confirming the investigation.
“The Garies police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following an incident that occurred on 11 October 2026, at around midnight, on Hoofstraat, in Garies.”
Police officers who arrived at the scene found the body of a woman lying next to a vehicle, Magerman said. He confirmed that the accused had appeared in the Springbok court on Monday.
The matter was later postponed to the Garies court until Thursday. Further court proceedings are expected to deal with the accused’s bail application and the charges against him.
Police have not confirmed the full circumstances leading to Maarman’s death, the identity of the accused or whether the vehicle was seized for forensic examination. They have also not announced whether the culpable-homicide charge could be amended as the investigation develops.
Family plans to oppose bail
Maarman’s family said it was devastated by her death and intended to oppose the accused’s release on bail.
Family spokesperson Irvine Januarie said the family believed the circumstances required a serious response. He questioned why the accused would seek bail while the family was grieving.
“Bail is the last thing the family is thinking about right now, because we are going to strongly oppose it on Thursday.
“Farren's parents are broken and shattered and will not easily get over the tragedy.”
Januarie said Maarman’s parents, Wendy and Ferdie Links, were also upset about how they were informed of her death on Sunday morning.
“It was thoughtless and unprofessional. The family wants to address it with the police later.”
The family’s criticism of the notification process had not been addressed in the police statement. It was also not clear whether the family had received a full briefing from investigators before the court appearance.
Friends remember Maarman
Dwayne Dwayne, who said he knew Maarman well, described her as a warm and sociable person who was loved by many people.
“She was a mens se mens with a very friendly personality.
“A very lovely person with friends all over the world.”
Her death has affected residents in Garies and communities across the Namakwa region. Maarman was remembered as someone with a wide circle of friends and a friendly personality.
Local residents alleged that the incident followed an argument involving the accused’s alleged relationship with another woman. Police have not confirmed that claim or provided a possible motive.
The family and community have described the death as murder, but the current charge before the court is culpable homicide. Whether the evidence supports an amendment to a more serious charge will be determined by the police investigation and the prosecution.
Petition against bail
Hundreds of residents from the Namakwa region and elsewhere have signed a petition opposing bail. Family member Aiden Links said the petition would be submitted to the court.
Community leaders were also planning a strong presence at the Garies court on Thursday when the accused was expected to return.
The planned gathering reflects the anger and grief in the community, but any court decision on bail will be based on the legal requirements governing release pending trial. A petition can communicate the community’s position, but it does not determine whether bail is granted or refused.
The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The court must consider the charges, the available evidence, the interests of justice and any risks associated with releasing the accused.
IPID notified
Because the accused is a police officer, IPID has been informed of the incident. The watchdog may investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and assess whether police conduct, official procedures or the use of a police vehicle or service equipment requires examination.
The police have not stated whether the vehicle involved belonged to the South African Police Service or was privately owned. They have also not disclosed whether the accused was on duty at the time.
Those details may become relevant as the investigation proceeds. Detectives will need to reconstruct the incident, examine the vehicle and scene, obtain witness statements and establish whether alcohol affected the accused’s ability to drive.
The accused faces charges of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol. He appeared in court on Monday, and the matter was postponed to Thursday at the Garies court.
As the family prepares to oppose bail and community members plan to attend the proceedings, investigators continue working to establish exactly what happened to Farren Maarman on Hoofstraat in the early hours of Sunday morning.