Africa-Press – South-Africa. Former teacher and Media24 journalist Willem Breytenbach’s bid to stop the sexual assault case against him has failed.
Prosecutor Ruwayda Badrudeen said in the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday:
Breytenbach’s legal team made representations to the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicolette Bell, in the hopes of ending the case, but she refused.
Breytenbach faces charges of sexual assault, which followed allegations made by Deon Wiggett in his podcast My Only Story.
Wiggett began a long investigation and during the airing of the podcast Breytenbach abandoned his business and house in Cape Town, and went to live with his mother in the southern Cape, near Mossel Bay.
He was tracked down and arrested in December 2019.
Sexual assault accused Willem Breytenbach submits representations to NPA
Several years later, the case is yet to get to trial.
Breytenbach used to work for Media24 and mentored young journalists. He was also a teacher and hostel master at Grey College. Before his arrest, he ran a digital advertising business in Cape Town.
He has not yet pleaded to the 14 charges against him. News24 decided it was in the public’s interest to name him.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Breytenbach had been charged with indecent assault and sexual assault.
He said:
In a brief chat on Wednesday morning, Breytenbach politely refused to answer any questions.
The matter returns to court on 14 July.
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