Revenge porn the latest case opened against Pretoria East bully, Johnny Rockett

Just days before John Schuurman – aka Johnny Rockett – is back in court for allegedly assaulting a woman, yet another case which relates to the abuse of a woman has been filed against him. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has helped Lindrie Gouws open a case after Schuurman allegedly distributed intimate photographs of Gouws to her friends with the intention to embarrass and cause her emotional harm.

This so-called revenge porn case is a first for the Unit, which has taken a strong stand against all forms of gender-based violence. Charges were filed today, 23 September at the Sinoville Police Station for contravention of the Film and Publications Act, contravention of the Cyber Crimes Act, as well as crimen injuria.

Gouws says she finally has the support needed to fight back. “I have decided to take a stand against abuse. The support from AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has created the environment which has enabled me to finally take steps against Schuurman, after many years of abuse.”

On Monday Schuurman is back in the Hatfield Magistrates Court for allegedly assaulting his former partner, Milena Hill. She approached the Unit out of concern that her case would not proceed because of Schuurman’s alleged contacts within the SAPS.

In another matter involving Schuurman, the Unit assisted Tyron Treurnich to open a case of assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and theft. The Unit is in possession of video footage of the incident as well as several affidavits from witnesses to support the case against the suspect.

The allegations in the main are that, in August last year, Treurnich was lured to a residential complex under pretences of cutting a client’s hair. Once being allowed into a flat, he was led upstairs to a bedroom. Treurnich alleges it was then that Schuurman appeared and severely assaulted him, accusing him of stealing from him.

Schuurman has earned himself a reputation in the east of Pretoria. Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, Adv. Gerrie Nel says any person who contravenes the law must be held accountable. “One of the reasons AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit was established was to deal with bullies, people who use their positions of power – whether it be political, financial or physical power – to abuse and undermine others. This is something the Unit will not stand for, and we will closely monitor all these cases to ensure justice is done and the community is protected from an individual’s violent excesses.”

The Unit’s spokesperson, Barry Bateman says: “We have received reports of other possible incidents of violence committed by Schuurman. We invite complainants to share their experiences with us with a view to ensuring the cases against Schuurman are properly filed with the police, with correctly drafted affidavits, accompanied by the required evidence, to ensure a successful prosecution.

“The Unit will support all these complainants through the process, up to the conclusion of a trial. This includes leveraging every aspect of available law to care for the well-being of victims of crime, and to protect them from further victimisation from suspects,” says Bateman.