Council and army probe ‘racist’ dentist
THE SANDF’s reputation has been tarnished by army dentist Jan van Tonder, who has been charged with viciously beating a gardener with a sjambok, SANDF spokesman Xolani Mabanga said yesterday.
And an internal probe is under way because the SANDF was viewing the incident in a very serious light, he said.
Van Tonder has been charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria for allegedly beating gardener Muhammed Makungwa with a sjambok in Claremont, Cape Town, on November 9. He was also charged with defeating the ends of justice.
The dentist is employed as an oral health manager at the Western Cape Military Health Service and also has permission from the SANDF to run a private practice at his Claremont home.
Van Tonder could also be charged with attempted murder after Makungwa said he had tried to run him over with his BMW X5.
The case against Van Tonder is also but one of 10 recent “race-related” attacks in Cape Town, said Nathan Johnson, a prosecutor at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
Mabanga said yesterday: “We are deeply concerned about this incident. It has tarnished the reputation of the SANDF. We take great excep- tion to members who behave in such a manner. We have a legal team looking into the matter. As the SANDF, we are supposed to protect people and cannot be found doing things that infringe on human rights.”
Health Professions Council of South Africa spokeswoman Priscilla Sekhonyana said the council had also launched a probe against Van Tonder.
Makungwa, a Malawian, is recovering from head wounds and bruises to his body after he was beaten on his way to work in Rondebosch.
The attack took place in Palmyra Road close to Van Tonder’s residence.
Johnson read Van Tonder’s statement to police in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
“He says he heard a sound near his motor vehicle that morning. He saw Makungwa and suspected that he broke into his vehicle. He stopped beating him when he saw his lunchbox fall onto the ground. It’s clear he realised… he was the wrong person… If he tried to knock Makungwa down, that warrants a case for attempted murder.”
Van Tonder will reappear in court on Friday.