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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has apologised to Bergview College principal, Jaco Pieterse, for falsely identifying him as a suspect in the alleged rape of a child that attends the school in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. In a letter to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, Mchunu says he has “human and personal empathy” for Pieterse and any other person “wrongly fingered” as suspects. The apology follows the unit’s announcement that as Pieterse’s legal representatives, it was preparing to file cases of criminal defamation against Mchunu and other politicians. 

Pieterse has welcomed Mchunu’s apology and accepted it as the first step towards rectifying the terrible wrong committed against him, his family, and the Bergview College community, which includes the caretaker and the scholar transport driver. “The false accusation of rape against me has had devastating consequences on every aspect of my life. Personally, my family and I have suffered immense psychological trauma and threats to our safety and lives, and were forced into hiding, abandoning our home, losing peace of mind, and normal family life. Too many falsehoods and distortions are still circulating, and it’s time the truth is clearly and publicly acknowledged,” he said. 

In the letter, Mchunu takes full responsibility. “I authorised the issuing of the statement on the basis of information I had received, and I had no reason not to believe in the truthfulness of the information that was placed before me. It later emerged that this information was inaccurate, a matter that will be addressed internally by the National Commissioner of Police,” said Mchunu. 

In response to the apology, the unit has addressed another letter to the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola. In the letter, the unit refers to the feedback report presented to the Portfolio Committee on Police on 15 April, which stated that the J88 medico-legal report on the child was inconclusive and that a forensic social worker met with the child on the day the alleged offence was reported. 

The unit has also asked the South African Police Service (SAPS), as custodians of the docket and evidence, to comment on recent reports about a leaked investigation status report, which reveals that a forensic social worker recorded in a report that the child did not suffer any trauma and, in fact, denied she had been the victim of sexual assault. Notably, it was reported that the Senior State Prosecutor, who declined to pursue the case, indicated that there was no prima facie evidence for successful prosecution and that the child wasn’t disclosing an offence.

Barry Bateman, Spokesperson for the unit, says this debacle was entirely avoidable. “This unfortunate incident has highlighted the importance of following due process and allowing police to conduct their investigation without interference from social media detectives, ill-informed politicians and state officials. Gender-based violence, particularly against children, requires extreme caution where a child’s best interests must be prioritised in all decisions and actions. The false allegations against Pieterse and others have hampered the proper administration of justice. Despite being vilified, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit remains undeterred in its objective to ensure that justice is served without fear, favour or prejudice. This apology and vindication have only strengthened our resolve to stand firm in the face of social media disinformation,” said Bateman.

The unit will continue to advise Pieterse as he seeks criminal accountability for the politicians and prominent people who falsely convicted an innocent man of an alleged crime he was not even remotely related to.

Issued by AfriForum