MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The State withdrew all charges against the principal of the Emmanuel Christian School, Ms Sandy James, last Thursday.
The father of the molested boy in the Linus van Niekerk case brought a charge of defamation against her. The father alleged that Ms James verbally assaulted him, following the decision by him and his wife to report Van Niekerk to the police. Both the parents of the young victim were teachers at the school until the incident.
According to local State Prosecutor Mr Reino Mostert the State withdrew all charges against Ms James, as what was said between Ms James and the boy's father cannot be construed as defamation within the definition of the law. Mr Mostert said, however, that it is clear that there is friction between the two parties.
Van Niekerk (20), son of Pastor Hennie van Niekerk of the Abundant Life Ministries, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault on November 6 last year. In his admission of guilt, Van Niekerk admitted to sexually molesting an 11-year-old boy on at least five different occasions, both in his parents' home and the home of the victim. The incidents occurred over a period of almost a year. His parents' home and the home of the victim are both situated on the premises of the Emmanuel Christian School, where the victim was a student at the time. Van Niekerk himself is a former student of the school.
Van Niekerk was to be sentenced on December 5, but Magistrate Bennie Smith withheld sentencing in the case, asking for the compilation of a clinical psychologist's report to determine whether or not Van Niekerk can be classified as a paedophile. The case was postponed until January 30 this year.
In an interesting turn of events, it came to light that Ms James has instructed a local attorney to act in defence of Van Niekerk during his court appearance on Friday. This is in stark contrast to the fact that the school had earlier categorically distanced itself from any involvement in the Van Niekerk case. The 11-year-old victim was a student at the Emmanuel Christian School at the time of the said indecent. The attorney is to argue extenuating circumstances before sentencing. At this stage, it seems as if the State is going to ask for a jail sentence of three years.