Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Father and daughters in court for assault that led to death of unborn baby

An Eersterust father and his two daughters made their first court appearance on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm – more than two years after the case was opened. Windel Ameer, Shahiedah Courtiers and Shariefah Ameer appeared in the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The trio allegedly assaulted Linodene Jacobus in October 2020 which left her with several stab wounds and bruises on her body. She would later lose her unborn baby.

Despite video evidence of the assault and accounts from several eyewitnesses, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute. A Senior Prosecutor in the NPA, no less, reasoned that “based on the fact that it was a mutual fight,” there was no prospect of successful prosecution.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit wrote to the NPA to express astonishment at the irrational decision. “Should we accept that women who are injured in fights will receive no protection from the law? We cannot but reflect our abhorrence that the NPA would allow a matter like this to be dragged out for months … If ‘fights’ are allowed, we in fact make allowance for revenge fights which may result in lawless chaos,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of the unit.

In May last year, following pressure from the unit, the NPA reviewed the decision not to prosecute.

Barry Bateman, the unit’s spokesperson, says it is unacceptable that it took so long to ensure the matter was brought to court. “It appears the authorities would try to find any excuse available not to prosecute, instead of ensuring cases are ready to proceed to trial. There is sufficient evidence to support the charges against the accused and we are now satisfied that the matter is finally before the courts.

“We do, however, express the same concern as the complainant’s family: that the accused through possible influence in their community are able to undermine police investigations, which allows them to act with impunity. This is something the unit will not stand for. It also demonstrates that without support from a watching brief like AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, justice is almost unattainable for citizens,” says Bateman.

The matter was postponed to Thursday, 23 February.