THREE IN COURT FOR CHILD ASSAULT

Thabazimbi – Petrus Oelofse (60), Jessica Hull (42) and Ria Oberholzer (37) appeared before the Thabazimbi Magistrates’ Court on Monday 30 January 2023.

Oelofse is facing charges of sexual assault and child neglect while Hull and Oberholzer are being held on charges of child neglect and assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

They were arrested on 26 January 2023 after it came to light that a child was sexually assaulted, and two children were brutally assaulted with a cricket bat. The trio will reappear in court on 7 February 2023 for a formal bail application.

Horendous

Despite facing 740 charges which range from rape, attempted murder, distribution of child pornography, and human trafficking of minor children for sexual exploitation, Gerhard Ackerman was surprisingly released on bail.

The National Prosecuting Authority was prompted to approach the court to revoke his bail after he failed to appear in court on Thursday 26 January 2023. He also disappeared from his place of residence without any notification to the investigating officer. 

Fortunately, with the assistance of the community, Ackerman was found in Florida, in the west of Johannesburg and re-arrested. The trial against him is set to continue in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng local division, Johannesburg, as previously scheduled before his disappearance.

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