No photos allowed of alleged fraudster as Vanderbijlpark case continues
Although the prosecution did not object to photographers being present, it became clear that the defence is determined to keep the identities of their clients out of the public eye for as long as possible.
VANDERBIJLPARK – Emile de Witt (36), a man allegedly linked to multiple fraud and scam schemes, appeared again in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on July 17. He appeared alongside co-accused Janri Verster (26) on charges of fraud and theft.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly misrepresented themselves in March 2021 as the owners of a 1.2-hectare plot in Mullerstuine. The complainant, Martha Madithule Lilian Lebakeng, reportedly paid R210 000 for the property based on this false representation, only to later find out that the land belongs to a third party, Barend Coetzer.
Despite the public nature of court proceedings, Magistrate Phumeza Ngindo denied a media application to photograph the accused. She ruled that mediation between the complainant and the accused is still ongoing, and allowing photos at this stage would be premature.
State prosecutor MT Daniso indicated that the state had no objection to the application. However, both defence attorneys – Nicholas Cloete for De Witt and S Schreuder for Verster – argued that the application was “incomplete” and filed without sufficient notice. They also noted that neither accused had entered a plea yet, and the matter is sensitive.
The case has been postponed to August 14.
De Witt, who arrived in a luxury bronze-coloured Land Rover, left the court before the media could photograph him outside. He has also been named in several public warnings by investigator Mike Bolhuis and is linked to multiple property fraud allegations.
