Attie van Zyl: Attackers claim self defence
Facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Cornu van Niekerk and Barend Swanepoel, both 26, were released on bail of R1000 each.
Two young men from Klerksdorp appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, after they handed themselves over to police last week, for the assault on Attie van Zyl.
Attie was attacked at a KFC restaurant in Bloemfontein late last month, and was lucky to escape with his life.
Facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Cornu van Niekerk and Barend Swanepoel, both 26, were released on bail of R1000 each.
They are both employees of the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Orkney. The Volksblad reported the two young men had handed themselves over to police.
Allegedly, two other young men were also arrested, but were released after a decision was taken by the senior state prosecutor not to charge them.
Johan Kramer of Kramer, Weihmann and Joubert Attorneys, the defence attorney for the two men, claimed in a statement made in court that it was a case of
self defence. “This is a case of self defence,” he said. “My clients were not there to fight, they only wanted to buy themselves food.”
Mr Kramer also testified that Attie was allegedly drunk, and his clients simply confronted Attie when he allegedly attempted to push in front of them in the line. Allegedly, Attie then swore at them.
Police are still waiting for a legal medical report and more statements need to be taken.
Attie sustained a broken nose and jaw, multiple fractures to his skull, a broken ankle and a dislocated right shoulder, during what has been described as a ‘vicious attack.’
Ilse van Zyl his mother, told Volksblad that Attie was still suffering from a concussion and memory loss. “At the moment he is sleeping almost 24 hours of
the day and is suffering from severe headaches,” she said.
The accused will appear in court on September 5.
