AfriForum Defends Bergview College Principal Amid Allegations of Defamation and Threats
Image source: Forever Yena Newspaper
AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit is currently representing Jaco Pieterse, who is the principal of Bergview College in Matatiele, as he pursues legal actions related to alleged defamation and threats of violence that have emerged following a deeply troubling incident involving a 7-year-old girl. This incident reportedly occurred in a classroom within the independent school where Pieterse is employed.
The victim alleges that while she was waiting for her ride home last October, an individual approached her and invited her to “come sweep” a classroom in a secluded area of the school. Once there, she was allegedly given a substance that smelled similar to “burning tyres” and was subsequently raped. After regaining consciousness, she noticed blood on her tracksuit pants, which led to an immediate outcry. Confirmation examinations at the Thuthuzela Care Centre corroborated her claims of rape.
On the day of the alleged incident, Jaco Pieterse was reportedly located at a different campus roughly 2 kilometers away from the site of the crime. Barry Bateman, a spokesperson for the Private Prosecution Unit, stressed the importance of clarifying their position: “We want to be clear—our office does not represent individuals accused of crimes. We were approached by someone who wished to file suits for defamation and threats of violence.” He further emphasized that if any evidence were to arise indicating Pieterse’s involvement in the crime, they would withdraw from the case immediately, underscoring their role as prosecutors rather than defenders.
This case has been particularly tumultuous due to numerous claims circulating on social media, where some people suggest that Pieterse is a suspect in the crime, particularly after the police requested a buccal sample from him, which he has yet to provide. Such baseless allegations have resulted in serious repercussions, including death threats directed at Pieterse. In response to these threats, Bateman revealed, “We communicated with the police on February 17, indicating that Pieterse is willing to provide a buccal sample, contingent on the police following due process. However, we have not received feedback regarding our letter, and we are still unaware of the status of the process.”
Bateman strongly asserted his beliefs about the timeline and conditions surrounding the alleged crime, arguing that the girl could not have been assaulted on the school grounds from where she was allegedly taken. “Pieterse was not at the school from which the child was taken; he was at the main campus 2 kilometers away. Nevertheless, four staff members were present at the campus where the child was picked up—three female teachers and a male groundskeeper,” he explained.
Moreover, refuting claims that Pieterse transferred the girl to another educational institution post-incident, Bateman noted that on December 11, 2024, KS Gunkel, the circuit manager from the Eastern Cape Department of Education, had asked for a detailed report from Pieterse. This report was intended to include verification that the child’s parent received all necessary documents, including the transfer card and learner profile file. On January 15, Pieterse complied with this request by sending all required information to Gunkel and confirmed that he gave the transfer card to the child’s family during this process.
In comments made by the department’s spokesperson, Mali Mtima, it was indicated that a meeting occurred last year with educational officials, the girl’s family, and school representatives. During this meeting, the family expressed their wish to transfer the girl to a different school, highlighting the lasting impact of the incident on them.
A letter written by Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, raised significant concerns about how the police investigation is being conducted. “While we do not have access to the case file or any statements collected during the inquiry, we must assume that the victim was unable to identify or describe the perpetrator. We know that the mother reported the rape to the school and has kept in contact with Pieterse since the unfortunate incident,” Nel wrote in the letter.
He expressed their strong commitment to aiding the investigation: “We want to express our total disgust towards any crime committed against vulnerable children and our intention to work with the SAPS to resolve this case.” However, Nel found the police’s request for a buccal sample from Pieterse to be confusing and unwarranted, noting, “This request seems illogical and unnecessary on the surface. Mr. Pieterse has never been, and cannot be regarded as, an official suspect in this investigation, contrary to the suggestions made on social media, and to imply otherwise contradicts all known facts and circumstances in this matter.”
The letter highlighted Mr. Pieterse’s professional history, focusing on his dedicated service in the education sector.
About The Author
