‘Disappointing’ end to Centurion culpable homicide case as accused found not guilty
Ruan Viljoen was found dead following a hit-and-run next to the N14 freeway in Centurion just two weeks before his 19th birthday.
The case against the man accused of causing the death of a Centurion teenager has ended in disappointment for the deceased’s mother after the accused was reportedly found not guilty on all charges against him.
Siphiwe Mahlaba was accused of the hit-and-run incident that lead to the death of 18-year-old Ruan Viljoen in March 2017. Viljoen matriculated from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunsskool the previous year.
Viljoen was found dead next to the N14 freeway in Centurion two weeks before his 19th birthday. Private investigators assisted the police in the investigation of his death, which led to Mahlaba’s vehicle being connected to the incident.
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After various court appearances over the past four years, Mahlaba has reportedly been found not guilty by the Pretoria magistrate’s court, according to Viljoen’s mother, Anita Greyvenstein.
Greyvenstein said she had been in contact with a state prosecutor in the case.
“I was aware that the matter had previously been before the court on Friday, October 29,” she said.
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“I enquired of the state prosecutor what he expected the outcome would be as I could only attend the court proceedings after 11:00. My daughter was writing exams.”
Greyvenstein said she was assured by the prosecutor that judgment would be postponed to a later date.
“Because the matter had been postponed so many times before, I didn’t expect judgment would be passed.
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“When I enquired on November 3 about the new court date, I was informed by the prosecutor the case had been finalised and judgment passed, and that the accused was found not guilty,” she said.
“I feel betrayed and beyond disappointed in our legal system.”
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was yet to comment at the time of going to press.
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