Third Maselspoort racism suspect Kobus Klaassen released on R20K bail

The third man arrested for the alleged racist attack on two teenagers at the Maselspoort Resort outside Bloemfontein over Christmas weekend appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s court on Thursday, and has been released on bail.

Kobus Klaassen, the owner of Prima Motors in Bloemfontein, faces a charge of attempted murder after he was seen in cell phone footage jumping into a swimming pool and forcing one of the boys’ head under the water.

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He was arrested on Wednesday and only appeared in court a day after his two co-accused, 33-year-old Johan Nel and 47-year-old Jan Stephanus van der Westhuizen, who are from Bothaville and Brandfort respectively.

Released on bail

Klaassen on Thursday told the court that he has four children and employs eight people.

He is not considered a flight risk, as he does not have a passport.

He was granted R20 000 bail. He is due back in court along with his co-accused on 25 January 2023.

Attempted murder charge

The trio were initially facing assault charges, but according to police spokesperson in the Free State Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, the charges were upgraded to attempted murder after investigations determined the seriousness of the assault.

“Given this first information of crime which was received by the police at that time, the only charges which could be registered were assault common and crimen Injuria.

“We want to put it on record that the police never downgraded any crime but worked and were informed by the first statement as obtained from the complainant,” said Makhele on Wednesday.

Also Read: Maselspoort attack: Blatant racists must be ‘punished severely’

“The docket was received back from the senior state prosecutor with clear directives, the investigator is now working on these directives and we anticipate that the perpetrator or perpetrators will within no time be brought before a court of law to account on this incident.”

CCTV footage shows drama leading up to incident

In CCTV footage which was circulating on social media on Thursday, it can be seen how a group of white people first tried to prevent the two black teenagers from entering the swimming pool area, before eventually scattering as one of them eventually enters the pool.

Shortly thereafter the assault starts when one first slaps the boy in the pool, and others join in.

The footage puts paid to claims by SA Taxpayers Union chairperson Willem Petzer, who had claimed the incident was sparked by the boys pushing a toddler into the pool.

No toddlers can be seen in the footage, and there is also no sign of the alleged mob of black people with whom the boys ostensibly returned to the pool before the assault.