Panel beater accused of assaulting worker

CRIMINAL charges have been opened against the owner of a wellknown panel-beating business in Kimberley, who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill one of his workers.

The police in Kimberley yesterday confirmed that they were investigating a case of common assault after the suspect (the owner of the panel-beating business) allegedly punched the complainant (a 29-year-old worker) in his chest during an incident late last month.

The worker told the DFA that he had been dismissed following the alleged incident that occured at the panel-beating business on October 26 2018.

“The man (the owner of the business) told black workers that if they did not want to work they should f**k off. (As julle swart mense nie wil werk nie, moet julle f*kof). I told him that I would let him get caught (ek gaan jou laat vang), and he (the owner) replied that he was not scared of anyone or anything. (Ek is bang vir niemand en f*kol). He then proceeded to hit me on my chest with his flat hand. He further told me that he would ‘show me’ and ‘hit me until I was dead’. (Ek gaan jou wys, ek gaan jou dood m*er), and added that he would fight me with any means possible,” the worker claimed yesterday.

He added that he was called in for a disciplinary hearing following the altercation and was apparently then informed that he had been dismissed as the owner “could not work with him any more”.

He stated further that workers were forced to work without contracts at the business and were thus unclear about their code of conduct.

The worker subsequently opened a charge of assault against the owner, who may not be identified until his first court appearance.

Police spokesperson, Captain Sergio Kock, confirmed that the police are investigating a case of common assault after the suspect allegedly punched the complainant in his chest during an incident late last month, but added that no arrests had yet been effected in this regard.