Hofmeyr pays up in time for wedding

Published Jan 24, 2014

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Pretoria - Steve Hofmeyr might have had trouble with the law recently but this weekend all that will be on the backburner, as the Afrikaans pop superstar walks the aisle again.

This time the woman is his long-term partner of 10 years, Janine van der Vyver.

Despite his recent run-in with the law, Hofmeyr kept some sense of humour when he told Pretoria News the R10 000 fine he received on Thursday for speeding would put a dent in his honeymoon budget.

He declined to comment further on his wedding arrangements.

But he is confident he will make up for the financial loss when he goes on tour again after marrying Van der Vyver this weekend.

Hofmeyr, 49, appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. He was arrested for reckless and negligent driving on December 19.

He pleaded guilty to charges of speeding and entered into a plea bargain with the State. He agreed to pay the fine but requested that his licence not be suspended.

Hofmeyr said in a statement read out by his lawyer that his profession required him to cover up to 12 000km a month to meet his commitments.

“It is the first time I have been arrested despite my extensive travelling. I did not intend to exceed the speed limit but I wanted to be on time as was expected,” the statement read.

He said he had been chastised on social media for his transgression.

Magistrate Elsie Schnetler said she could see Hofmeyr showed remorse for what he had done.

“It is a heavy fine but I accept it. We are all fallible,” Hofmeyr said outside the court.

Hofmeyr was caught doing 169km/h in a 120km/h zone in his black Chrysler C300 on the N4 near the Wilgerivier offramp. He was late for a show in Badplaas.

Hofmeyr said he had only driven the car for three weeks at the time of his arrest and claimed to be “more aware of its acceleration now”.

“I will do my best to keep my fast car under control,” he said.

His popularity was confirmed when he was seen signing autographs for court officials, even after he had been called to the dock.

Another fan and friend, nudist Beau Brummell – in clothes – supported Hofmeyr in court and whispered to him in the dock.

He was brought to order by police officers.

“I’m so happy for Steve.

“I even had the money to help pay the fine if he needed it.

“I was so scared they would take his licence, that would have been a disaster,” Brummell said outside the court.

Hofmeyr has five children.

He was previously married to Egoli actress Natasha Sutherland.

 

When his marriage to Sutherland fell apart in 2008, fitness instructor Van der Vyver revealed they had been seeing each other for 10 years. He proposed to Van der Vyver in 2011.

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Twitter: @LalivZ

Pretoria News

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