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News24 reports that Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse says he is contemplating laying criminal charges and launching lawsuits against those who falsely accused him of raping a 7-year-old child – including several prominent politicians.
Pieterse says the "lowest point" of being falsely accused "came when prominent politicians and high-ranking state officials failed to perform their duties with diligence and resorted to cheap politics, discrediting me by spreading falsehoods and labelling me as a rapist and someone unwilling to cooperate with the authorities". Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has admitted he wrongly identified Pieterse as a suspect in the alleged rape of the child and has apologised to him in a letter sent to AfriForum private prosecution unit head advocate Gerrie Nel, who has been advising the principal. In a letter sent to Mchunu on Friday, Nel wrote: "Our client (Pieterse) experienced the trauma caused by uninformed media detectives, politicians, and even academics who feel themselves entitled to comment and judge 'criminal conduct' without any reference to facts and/or concern for the harm it may cause. We will take appropriate action against politicians and prominent individuals to uphold the principle that defamation has both criminal and civil consequences," he said. Pieterse and his family received death threats and had to go into hiding after the mother of the 7-year-old Bergview pupil went public with her accusations that police and school authorities had failed to properly investigate and address her daughter's alleged rape in October last year.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Karyn Maughan at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
- Lees ook, Bergview College: Minister ‘jammer’ oor vals inligting, by Maroela Media
- En, Cwecwe: AfriForum kom vir diegene wat vals beskuldig, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page