Neighbours’ feud in court again

South End townhouse resident now facing assault, damage charges

THE bitter feud between two neighbours at a South End townhouse complex continues unabated, with one of the men appearing in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of assault and malicious damage to property.

Jacques Gouws, 48, a retired policeman, also faces three civil claims lodged by his neighbour, Carel du Preez, 29, at the Port Elizabeth High Court following Gouws’s alleged assault on him in September last year. Du Preez has also approached the body corporate of Neapolis, South End, where both live, to have a poster removed from Gouws’s window which he says constitutes hate speech.

The poster reads: “Crossdressing moffies are banned from knocking or loitering outside door. Will call SAPS.”

Both men, who live next door to each other, brought a number of court applications against each other last year in a bid to resolve the feud.

As a result of the allegations and evidence presented in court, Judge Elna Revelas granted Du Preez an interdict against Gouws in December.

In those court papers, Du Preez alleged that for a number of months Gouws had embarked on a campaign to harass and defame him and that he had sent a number of letters to the body corporate referring to him as a “bloody sexless moffie” and a “lowlife scumbag”.

Gouws, however, sought a court order prohibiting Du Preez from pointing a firearm at him or intimidating him, harassing or abusing him.

Meanwhile, Du Preez alleged Gouws had a habit of standing at his house and taking notes. He also claims Gouws would examine his vehicle licence plates.

He also suspected his vehicle’s tyres were flat most mornings because of Gouws.

However, Gouws alleged that on three occasions Du Preez had accelerated his vehicle as if to run him over.

The drama began in May when Gouws started writing letters to the complex’s managing agents, Bellbouy, according to court papers.

The men bickered for several months but things turned ugly on September 29 when Du Preez alleges that Gouws attacked and assaulted him for allegedly shining his car lights into Gouws’ window.

Du Preez then laid criminal charges of malicious damage to property and assault, stating that his vehicle was damaged in the process.

He said he also had a video of the alleged assault.

Yesterday, Gouws requested that the matter be postponed and informed the court that his attorney had with- drawn for financial reasons and that he now wanted to represent himself.

“I aim to carry myself in person. I do not want to appoint Legal Aid. However, I am not in the position to proceed as I am not in possession of the case docket,” he said.

He said he required access to statements as well as a video of the alleged assault in order to prepare himself.

Magistrate Elliot Plaatjie postponed the matter to March 11 in order for prosecutor Nokuzola Matiwane to arrange for Gouws to be fur- nished with the necessary documents. But Du Preez said he believed the request for a postponement was a “delaying tactic”.

“Things have not got any better since [the protection order was granted] as he has just changed from personally taking me on to intimidating my guests and other people in the complex. He cannot go near me so he intimidates my guests,” he said.

Gouws declined to comment yesterday.

“I will gladly give you my side. I have a lot to say about this. But you will need to make an appointment with my attorney,” he said.