Corrie Pretorius, a Limpopo man who was caught in video assaulting and pointing a 16-year-old black boy with a firearm, has an option to spend the next 12 months in jail or pay a fine of R12000.
He appeared in the Groblersdal magistrate’s court on Monday and pleaded guilty to the charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and pointing a firearm at the boy.
Pretorius assaulted the minor during an argument, allegedly over seasoning salt at the Groblersdal Game Shopping Centre in Limpopo on 15 June 2022.
The video of the incident was circuited on social media, wherein Corrie Pretorius was shown assaulting, swearing and pointing a firearm at the young teen. The minor did not retaliate during the incident.
According to Limpopo police, other shoppers watched helplessly as Pretorius assaulted the boy.
The incident sparked outrage among residents, who marched to the police station, demanding justice. After his arrest, Pretorius’ wife received threatening phone calls and opened a case of intimidation.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Pretorius pleaded guilty to the offences and that he was remorseful.
“The state advocate, Bully Mudavhi, submitted that the offence is serious, it has the interest of the community and he further prayed for direct imprisonment. The presiding officer, Mr Monjane, sentenced Pretorius to pay R12000 or 12 months imprisonment, of which half is suspended for five years conditionally and further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.”
“The NPA believes the sentence will send a strong message to would-be offenders,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
Source: News24, The Citizen, Sunday World, Eyewitness News, Sowetan Live, image from Twitter: @RealFloetic_E
