Court postpones trial – again – after accused reports sick

Thabazimbi – The long-running child assault trial involving Ria Oberholzer, Petrus Oelofse, and Jesica Hull has once again been postponed. This time, the delay was due to illness — one of the accused, Petrus Oelofse, was reportedly too unwell to attend proceedings.

The matter, which remains before the Thabazimbi Magistrates’ Court, was set for continuation this month but has now been rescheduled to 1 September 2025 for further hearing. All three accused remain out on bail as the case proceeds.

The accused have been appearing in court since March 2024, when they were first charged with various offences relating to child assault and neglect. This latest development follows a previous delay in June 2025, when court proceedings were halted to accommodate assistive hearing devices for a key hearing-impaired witness.

Oelofse faces charges of sexual assault and child neglect, while Oberholzer and Hull are charged with child neglect and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.