Success: Charges against Dwarskersbos residents withdrawn after AfriForum intervenes

Adv. Phyllis Vorster, a prosecutor at AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, succeeded today in persuading the state to withdraw charges against community members in Dwarskersbos for the alleged violation of lockdown regulations. The Unit will also support community members on 16 July 2020 at the municipal investigation into the misconduct of among others Jerome Pedro en Tertius Pool, traffic officers of the Bergrivier Municipality.

AfriForum currently supports residents of Dwarskersbos who during lockdown fell victim to alleged unfair and arbitrary power abuses by law enforcers. The Unit requested Pedro’s suspension earlier, as well as that criminal charges be withdrawn that had been brought against residents for supposedly breaking the lock down regulations.

“AfriForum welcomes the state’s decision to withdraw the charges and feels that justice and reason prevailed. It seems that some law enforcers abused violations of the regulations as an excuse to turn ordinary, law-abiding citizens into criminals. It is irrational and a violation of community members’ rights to treat people like criminals simply because they walked on the beach at a time when everyone was trying to make sense of the regulations,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.