By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Civil Society Group AfriForum welcomed the apology by Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu to Bergview College principal, Jaco Pieterse, for falsely identifying him as a suspect in the alleged rape of 7 year old Cwecwe.
In a letter addressed to AfriForum advocate Gerrie Nel, who is providing legal assistance to Pieterse, Mchunu admitted that his department made an error in a statement issued on March 29.
Mchunu’s apology came as the Afriforum Private Prosecution Unit announced its client’s intentions to file cases of criminal defamation against him and other politicians.
The statement incorrectly identified “three individuals, including the school principal,” as suspects in the rape case involving a child at the school, known as the “Cwecwe case.”
“I have human and personal empathy for your client and any other person who might have been wrongly fingered as a suspect in circumstances where he or they were the only persons of interest,” Mchunu wrote.
“I categorically state that I never at any stage had an intention to defame your client or any other person for that matter.”
Mchunu said he had authorised the release of the statement based on information presented to him at the time, which he believed to be accurate.
He said he is prepared to apologise personally to Pieterse, who was incorrectly identified as a suspect, and acknowledged the damage done to him, his family, and the Bergview College community.
“This debacle was entirely avoidable. This unfortunate incident has highlighted the importance of following due process and allowing police to conduct their investigation without interference from social media detectives, ill-informed politicians and state officials,” said AfriForum spokesperson, Barry Bateman.
Bateman said the false allegations against Pieterse, and others hampered the proper administration of justice.
He said, despite being vilified, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit will remain undeterred in its objective to ensure that justice is served without fear.
Meanwhile Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale hosted a ministerial crime prevention engagement in Eldorado Park in Gauteng on Friday.
Mathale said everything that was stated during the imbizo was written down.
“The objective is that after this engagement, there should be continuous interaction between the police and the people who raised issues. That will happen. We will meet individually, and we will ensure there is closure. You will be responded to, maybe not to your satisfaction,” he said.
Mathale said this imbizo has been held in other parts of the country too and stated that even in the Western Cape, residents who posed questions and highlighted their grievances were given feedback.
“We are not doing this because we have nothing to do; we do it because it is necessary and you deserve this service. We will not stop doing it. Whether there are elections or not, “Mathale said.