AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit on 16 November 2022, assisted Danielle Barendse (20) in laying criminal charges of assault and crimen injuria at the Wierdabrug police station in Centurion. This follows an incident on 8 October 2022 at Barendse’s workplace at a business in Centurion during which a male customer chased her around the store and falsely called her a racist in front of the entire store.
The man in question is an employee of the Tshwane Metro.
The Private Prosecution Unit prepared the necessary statements for the police docket, as well as providing the SAPS with documentation and footage that should be included in the docket. The unit will also, if necessary, help Barendse obtain a protection order against the man.
On the day of the incident, Barendse attempted to assist two men after which the person against whom the charges were laid, chased after her when she tried to walk away from him. Footage of the incident shows the man apparently trying to stop her from walking away from him and constantly entering her personal space. From the footage, it further appears that four people had to get between Barendse and the accused after she fled to the reception desk to prevent him from getting to her.
At the reception desk, the man also made false allegations of racism by shouting to everyone within earshot that Barendse was a racist and that he would get the EFF to come and shut the place down.
“False allegations of racism must be taken in a very serious light. We all know the serious implications for persons accused of racism, so people who make false allegations like this should not simply be allowed to get away with it. People cannot simply abide false allegations of racism against them because that means they are condoning this crime. That’s why we are proud of Danielle for laying these charges and being steadfast in pursuing the case,” says Natasha Venter, Advisor at AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.
Venter further says that the man’s aggressive behavior convinced Barendse that an attack on her was imminent and that he would assault her if she did not get away from him. “Such conduct constitutes the crime of assault. We all know how serious the pandemic of gender-based violence is in this country and action should be taken against a man who chases a 20-year-old girl around in her own workplace and then falsely calls her a racist,” says Venter.
“I opened this case because I found people who supported me and helped me with the process. I do this not only for myself, but also for the other victims of crime who do not necessarily have the necessary support. It is important to me that justice is done,” says Barendse.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on AfriForum
