The Stellenbosch Regional- and Magistrates Court where Johan Steyn’s legal team submitted a plea and sentence proposal. PHOTO: Dennis Delport
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The lawyers of Johan Steyn submitted a plea and sentence proposal to court on Thursday, 24 October, after a brief appearance in the Stellenbosch Regional Court. Steyn faces charges of attempted murder, with an alternative charge of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he allegedly drove over security guard Mzwanele Wellem back in April at Die Boord shopping centre in Stellenbosch.
Bruce Hendricks, lawyer of Steyn who is out on R2 000 bail, confirmed the plea and sentence proposal to MatieMedia. “We proposed a guilty plea on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm with a sentence proposal of 5 years imprisonment wholly suspended for 5 years,” he said. “Furthermore the plea and sentence proposal also suggests that the accused attend an anger management program and also submit himself to community service.”
Mzwanele Wellem, the security guard who got driven over back in April at Die Boord shopping centre in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Dennis Delport
Wellem told MatieMedia on 24 October that he has mixed emotions about the plea and sentence proposal. “I don’t know how to feel right now about the situation. We will see what happens next,” he said.
Basil de Sousa, Wellem’s lawyer, did not want to comment on the plea and sentence agreement as he has not seen it as of yet.
Hendricks said that they are still awaiting feedback from the office of the director of public prosecutions on whether or not the plea and sentence proposal would be accepted in terms of Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Eric Ntabazalila, Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, said that the outcome of the plea and sentence agreement would be made publically in the next court date.
The case was postponed till 19 November.
MatieMedia reported earlier that Wellem is in dire need of help for him and his family after the incident. When asked about his well being now, Wellem said that life is on the rise again for him. “Things are going good with me and my family. We are on the rise again,” he said. He is however, still in need of help for his daughter who will need stationary and clothes come the new school year in 2020. Donations for Wellem and his family can still be dropped off at the health shop at Die Boord shopping centre.