The Ermelo Magistrate’s Court granted conditional bail of R30 000 to Louis Johannes Grobler (41) who stands accused on charges of attempted murder and assault.

Grobler pleaded through an affidavit not guilty to the charges against him and his defence team stated that the incident was an unfortunate accident.

The defence team for Grobler stated that there are 13 workers dependent on Grobler, that he is a family man and also the breadwinner in his household.

The investigating officer explained that he had to finish the investigation that had already been begun by the previous investigating officer, but that because he had been to the scene, he was qualified to testify as a witness.

Magistrate Thibedi Motsepe weighed in on the matter after the prosecution and defence stated their cases for and against bail during the previous hearings and said he was considering all the various factors.

Motsepe alluded to the fact that there were different parties in court and that the case had garnered a lot of media and the public’s attention.

He added that innocence or guilt will be determined by the court case.

“The applicant accused successfully showed that it is in the interest of justice to grant bail.”

Grobler was then released on conditional bail of which he needs to comply with the following:

• He must appear at the court for the trial date set on August 29.
• To surrender his passport to the investigating officer
• To report to the Ermelo Police Station once a week
• Not to communicate with witnesses in the trial
• Not enter the complainants residences or workplaces

The court case has been postponed to 29 August pending further investigation.

The prosecutor stated that the investigation is almost complete, they are awaiting two J88 forms, a photo album of the scene and analytics of the vehicle.