ANC links to ‘coffin assault’ victim
THE “coffin assault” victim’s close association to the ANC was in the spotlight yesterday ‚ as he revealed that the party had paid for his counselling sessions and continued to take care of him because he is unemployed.
Testifying in the high court sitting in Middelburg in the sentencing proceedings against his two attackers‚ Victor Mlotshwa said he had no idea how much the party had paid for his counselling.
He could not recall the name of the counsellor or her address.
“This is the same ANC which put a big truck outside to intimidate people?” Org Basson‚ lawyer for accused Theo Jackson‚ asked.
Mlotshwa replied: “I do not know about them intimidating people.”
Wayne Gibbs‚ acting for the other accused‚ Willem Oosthuizen, said: “Sadly, this matter has been politicised.”
He said it was unfortunate that the political party had pulled out all the stops to gain supporters.
Basson accused Mlotshwa of “riding the wave and enjoying the limelight” which began after a video of the assault went viral.
“You have become quite a celebrity‚” he said to Mlotshwa.
Mlotshwa replied: “That I do not know.”
Basson criticised Mlotshwa for failing to take off his shirt and show the court the wounds he suffered as a result of the assault.
“I put it to you that you are not telling the truth about [the trauma you are going through]‚ in the same way that you did not tell the truth about grievous knobkerrie injuries‚” he said.
He said Mlotshwa had exaggerated the impact of the incident to bolster his civil claim against the pair.
Mlotshwa had initially submitted that he wanted to lodge a claim of R400 000 against the accused.
However‚ he said yesterday he might seek an even higher amount. He would not disclose how much more he wanted.
“I hope you show your back to the civil court‚ because it will not be as easy as it was in this court. Believe me‚” Basson hit back.
Jackson and Oosthuizen were arrested after a video of them forcing Mlotshwa into a coffin went viral.
Mlotshwa testified that the two men attacked him‚ with no provocation‚ while he was hitchhiking.
The two men claimed that they had found Mlotshwa in possession of suspected stolen copper cables.
During the hearing, one of the two men who placed Mlotshwa in the coffin‚ threatening to burn him alive‚ conceded that he was remorseful only because he faced jail time.
“I regret putting him in the coffin and not taking him to the police station‚” Jackson said.
Prosecutor Robert Molokoane asked Jackson: “You gave a version to the court about why you did not take him to the police station.
“You wanted to teach him a lesson. What informs you to change that version?”
“I did make mention that this is because of the impact it has had on my family‚” Jackson replied. “And you feel that way now because you are facing imprisonment?” Molokoane asked. “That is correct‚” he replied. Following the somewhat confusing matter of whether the pair were remorseful‚ Mlotshwa told the court that he had not yet received an apology from them.
Meanwhile‚ the attorneys for both accused urged the court to keep their clients out of prison.
Gibbs and Basson pleaded with the court to not give direct imprisonment to the pair‚ urging that their sentences be wholly suspended.