The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers and local community members plan to protest outside the Vosburg Magistrate’s Court when an accused individual, who allegedly assaulted one of the union’s members at a fuel station, reappears in court.
THE NATIONAL Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) and local community members plan to protest outside the Vosburg Magistrate’s Court when an accused individual, who allegedly assaulted one of the union’s members at a fuel station, reappears in court.
Nupsaw provincial organiser Andrew Diraditsile also emphasised that the employer of the assaulted member, Jan Minnies, who was working as a fuel station attendant at an agricultural co-operative, had a responsibility to adhere to health and safety regulations since Minnies was injured on duty.
“He should be offered psychosocial support, counselling and further medical treatment for his injured ear. Anti-harassment measures should also be implemented to protect workers from incidents of violence,” Diraditsile stated.
The accused, Hercules van Rensburg, appeared in the Vosburg Magistrate’s Court on September 10 and is due to reappear in court next month
Northern Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam confirmed that the police are investigating a common assault case following the physical attack on a 44-year-old man in Vosburg on August 1.
“The police arrested a 51-year-old accused who appeared in the Vosburg Magistrate’s Court on September 10,” Sam added, noting that the investigation is ongoing.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane stated that the accused was released and warned to reappear in court.
“The original charge was made of assault common by the SAPS. The matter was postponed until October 8 for further investigations and consultation by the accused’s attorney,” Senokoatsane explained.
He added that the state prosecutor would decide, following further investigations, whether to upgrade the charge to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, pending the availability of a medical report to determine the extent of the injuries.
