PETRUS Opperman (47) from Margate, who was linked to the death of Lwandile Mampofu (26) after a bar brawl in Margate about two years ago, appeared in the Ramsgate High Court yesterday (Wednesday).
He was represented by defence attorney Christo van Vuuren and he pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Dressed in a white shirt and red tie, Opperman accepted the plea agreement which stipulated that he had to pay a R10 000 fine or, alternatively, serve three years’ imprisonment, half of which would be suspended for a period five years.
Two of the three counts against him were withdrawn, and he was also found unfit to own a firearm.
His co-accused Jacobus ‘Jake’ Putter (33), Douw van der Walt (33) and Carel Volschenk (49) are expected to appear for trial at the Ramsgate High Court on October 14. Mr Putter and Mr van der Walt face charges of murder.
On August 14, 2011, Lwandile and his girlfriend Lungile Danca visited a pub in Margate, which which the four men were also visiting. According to the indictment, it was sometime after midnight when Mr Putter uttered the words to the effect of ‘watter ka**ir gaan ek moer?’
Mr Putter apparently approached Lwandile, who was smoking, pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and walked away with it.
Lwandile and his girlfriend were angered by this and demanded the cigarette be returned. The state claimed that Mr Putter then punched Lwandile in the face. Mr van der Walt, Mr Volschenk and Opperman allegedly joined the fray and also assaulted Lwandile.
Lwandile ran out of the pub with the four men in pursuit. Although Lwandile managed to arm himself with a broken bottle to ward off his attackers, the men overpowered him and continued the assault in Marine Drive.
Lwandile escaped and sought refuge in a garden in Homestead Road.
It is believed Mr Putter and Mr van der Walt pursued him in a vehicle. They found him hiding and jumped and stamped on his head. The state said that Lwandile died as a result of injuries to the head and jaw.
