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Day 7 of the trial played out this morning in Cape Town. The effectiveness of the security at the De Zalze estate still receiving a lot of fire from the defence. It was an exceptionally long day in court so bear with me as I try and recap it for you as accurately as possible. The day started with witness number 80 on the list. Marcia Rossouw, security manager at De Zalze. She took over as manager in 2014 and made several improvements whilst working there, such as upgrading the electric fence. She says the additional cameras that were installed was not as a result of the murders. At the time of the murders, there were optic cameras at all the gates and at other strategic points. There is an optic camera where the river enters the estate, there are also beams and the thermal cameras which have been discussed by Mr Afrika. There are two security routes, one that happens within the estate and one that runs along the perimeter. The report from that night shows that all the patrols happened on schedule. Rossouw said that once the system is triggered someone would need to go out and resolve the issue for it to be deactivated. The Van Breda home is in the middle of the estate with a 2-kilometre distance from where the river enters the estate to their home. The airfield gate is 1 kilometre away. Rossouw says when she heard of the incident she requested that the fence is inspected thoroughly for any entry point, and the check the system for any activations and to look at the camera reports. The four incidents that were reported was followed up on and was apparently a power drop. There were no discrepancies in any of the 18 cards that were used to enter and exit at the gates (as sometimes homeowners would lend their cards to others) Rossouw echoes all the previous security witnesses that there were no incidents or anything suspicious that night. Advocate Botha then questioned Rossouw and said that there would need to be a light on for the cameras to pick up anyone on its footage. Rossouw retorted and said that there were lights with the cameras except for the Eskom gate camera. Botha asked about the anti-dig by the fence and says that there are various areas that do not have it. Rossouw responded and said that it is still like that. Judge Desai asked if it would be possible to dig a tunnel underneath. Rossouw said that there would have been evidence of this, no footprints, damage or wires being cut. Advocate Botha said that he planned on showing the court how rocks can be used to cover up such an entry through the fence. (Whether he means under or literally through, I am not certain) There is a report that points out various errors in security, especially with the cameras. Spotlights and a security guard were recommended for the fence around where the river enters the estate. Rossouw says that these were not in place in 2015, only an optic camera. Botha then said that one point while he was visiting the estate there was an unmarked vehicle with a member of the press taking pictures of the home. They had gained entry under the pretence of going to the Klein Zalze restaurant. The bridge from Klein Zalze to the estate did not have access control. Botha said that on the report there were more than four "alarm ons" and whether Rossouw had seen this. She said she had. At 1:08 there was an alarm activated. Rossouw says fences are activated when they get tested, these get logged as such. But Rossouw also said that she did not check personally that these were indeed fence tests. The next day the alarms were said to have been a result of the power dip. There are two different alarms, one alerts the controllers and the other caused by the dip in power, and responders would not be sent out then. Botha then referred to an old attempt at entry into the estate and Rossouw said that those people did not gain entry and that the security was very quick to respond. The court is adjourned until tomorrow.

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