UPDATE: 2 appear in court after brutal assault of Paul Geldenhuys

POLOKWANE – Paul Geldenhuys (35) passed away in the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital, possibly from complications of an assault earlier in March.

Geldenhuys and some friends were seemingly assaulted by a group of men at The Iron Crown Pub & Bistro in Haenertsburg.

He suffered injuries to his face, neck and right side of the body and was taken to hospital several days after the assault.

According to an eyewitness whose identity Review is protecting, the group of young men who assaulted Geldenhuys was “looking for trouble with patrons at the pub”.

“At some stage, the owner of the pub even asked them to settle their bill and leave.

“We know them well, they are known troublemakers in pub circles,” the person claimed.

The owner of Iron Crown, Linda Halkon, declined to comment on the matter, only saying behaviour such as was witnessed on the evening in question, is not encouraged by the management of Iron Crown.

Geldenhuys’s body was released to the state for an official autopsy on Tuesday and the family hopes to be able to bury him on Friday.

Provincial Police Spokesperson Col Ronel Otto confirmed a case of assault was opened and is being investigated.

The charge will change to that of murder should the autopsy show Geldenhuys died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault said Otto.

The names of the accused, have not yet been released as investigations are still ongoing.

Two men have however appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court last week and were released on R3 000 bail each, according to the investigating officer in the case WO Khoza.

Otto confirmed the men will re-appear in the Tzaneen court on Tuesday.

• Funeral arrangements for Geldenhuys have been confirmed for Friday, 1 April at 15:00. A memorial service will be held for him in the Noordskool school hall.