Local man accused of theft he claims he did not commit

A LONE figure in the dock at the Port Alfred Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Andries Venter stood accused of theft, but felt certain that the Lord had plans for him and was unafraid as magistrate Xolile Dlulisa ordered the self-confessed former criminal to be released with a warning.

Venter was arrested on suspicion he had stolen money, having sold tools in order to raise money to support the family of a man who had previously been his business partner.

“Mario van Rooyen and I had a business together and, when I was in prison, Mario paid my bail. I then lived with him,” said Venter in an interview conducted after his court appearance.

“Mario asked me to sell some tools for him, tools that we had used in our previous business.

“He asked me to give the money to his family, which I did.”

Venter has no hesitation in admitting he was involved in crimes in his past, but swears he is a reformed man who found God during his last stint in prison.

“When I left prison the last time, I went to see pastor Eldin [Rudolph] at the Celebration Centre and asked him for guidance,” Venter explained. “I wanted to serve the Lord.”

Venter has been assisting police with their inquiries into other crimes he was aware of. His statements led to the suspension of an unidentified officer from the Port Elizabeth CIG (Crime Intelligence Group) who was allegedly in cahoots with criminal activities along with Van Rooyen.

“Mario came and threatened me with a gun,” said Venter.

“He told me that if I was going to get him into trouble, he would show me how easy it was to put me back in prison.”

Asked if he was afraid after being threatened in that way, Venter replied that he was not scared at all.

“He would not have pulled the trigger, as that would have been a much bigger problem for him.

“And anyway, I knew I was in God’s hands, so I was secure in that knowledge,” he said.

Magistrate Dlulisa was aware of Van Rooyen’s past history with the police and admonished him for refusing to appear and give evidence against his former business partner as he signed for the release of Venter from custody.

Pastor Eldin Rudolph said: “Andries came to me and confessed that he had been a criminal in the past, but that he had found the Lord while in prison.

“We gave him work to do and watched him carefully, and stand behind him as he has been falsely accused of this crime.

“We have witnessed a great change in Andries’s behaviour and have given him volunteering duties, along with counselling.”

Rudolph admitted Venter’s past was “very bad” and that he was involved in car theft and drugs, but said everyone who professed Jesus as Lord deserved a second chance.

Venter will consult with his Legal Aid attorney and will then appear in court to face charges of theft on March 22. TWO-and-a-half years after Stenden Grand Tour student Jurrien Wissink died while celebrating his 24th birthday at the on-campus bar with friends, an inquest is under way at the Port Alfred Magistrate’s Court this week.

Among the witnesses called to testify are Stenden South Africa executive dean Wouter Hensens as well as previous and current Stenden staff members and former students.

Asked if the inquest was to determine if any party was guilty for the death, Hensens said that it appeared the inquest was involved in determining the actual cause of death rather than establishing anyone’s guilt.

The on-campus bar was closed following Wissink’s death, and alcohol was banned from the campus.

“The students accepted this from the get-go, as the death of a fellow student galvanised us all into action,” said Hensens, who added that new students simply accepted that alcohol was not allowed on campus.

The inquest will continue until Friday.