“Men were created to look after women, to protect and respect them. Unfortunately, in South Africa, in the Western Cape, this is no more the case, and women are used as punching bags. Every day, on average, 14 women are killed in the Western Cape alone.”
Magistrate M. de Vos made this damning statement last week during the bail application of a well-known Overberg farmer who faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The 64-year-old man, who owns a large farm outside Riviersonderend, reportedly spent two nights in custody before being released on bail of R1 000. He reportedly handed himself over to the police on Sunday 29 October and made his first appearance in the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm the following day. His case was then remanded to Wednesday 1 November for a formal bail application.
Willem Boshoff told the court his client owns a farm, had never been convicted of a crime, had no pending criminal charges and intends pleading not guilty.
The victim, who asked not to be identified, informed the court she was not opposed to the accused being released on bail, on condition that he did not contact her in any way. Asked by the accused’s attorney if she intended proceeding with the charges, she emphatically replied “yes”.
She also indicated she was in the process of getting a protection order against the accused with whom she had been in a relationship.
The alleged assault occurred on 18 October, when the couple were driving to the accused’s home in Voëlklip. The woman’s father said she informed him she managed to escape after the accused pulled bundles of hair from her scalp, leaving her with bald patches. VContinues on page 5.