MBOMBELA – The state took Ms Christine Bruins’ relocation into account when her case was postponed to January 28, 2015. The accused did not have to travel to court for Monday’s postponement.
According to her legal representative, Mr Coert Jordaan, the state indicated that the announcement of this date could take place in her absence as Bruins did not reside in the Mbombela area anymore.
During July the court heard former employees of the accused testify that she had abused kids in her care in the past.
The two witnesses, Ms Lettie Magagula and Ms Janet Mtetwa, were cross-examined by Jordaan. Magagula was confronted with the fact that she had not reported this abuse. She answered that she had been too scared. Mtetwa’s evidence was, according to Jordaan’s cross-examination, self-contradictory.
The case was set to continue on July 25, but had to be postponed as Bruins was not present. The magistrate, Mr André Geldenhuys authorised a warrant for her arrest which was held over until November 14.
Geldenhuys was unable to attend court on this date and Jordaan handled the postponement – to November 24 – in his client’s absence before magistrate
Mr Willie Wilkens.
