Kimberley - Just days after appearing in court with his father, Andre Visagie, the leader of the Geloftevolk Republiekeine, 19-year-old Jan Visagie is now facing a case of assault and pointing of a firearm.
This follows an apparent road-rage incident in Long Street, Kimberley, during which Jan Visagie allegedly pulled out a firearm during an argument, which eventually turned into a full-blown fist fight.
Andre and Jan Visagie appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court last week on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition after a police raid at their home in the city.
Jan was reportedly called by his mother, Marietjie, while she was following a Volkswagen bakkie, which had allegedly swerved in front of her BMW while she was driving in MacDougall Street.
According to the driver of the bakkie, GP Laubscher, 21, he accidentally turned in front of a BMW as he entered MacDougall Street, but added that he offered an apologetic hand gesture to the driver. It was only when he was in Oliver Road that he noticed that the BMW was following him.
“When I noticed that the BMW was following me, I called my father to ask him what I should do. He told me to drive to Long Street as he was close by and could assist me. I still couldn’t see if the driver of the BMW was male or female,” Laubscher said.
“After I turned left into Long Street (from Memorial Road) and stopped at the robot, a Nissan Sentra approached my vehicle from the front (in oncoming traffic), and stopped right in front of my car. The BMW stopped behind me resulting in me not being able to go anywhere.”
“The driver of the Sentra then got out of his car and pulled me from my vehicle. A massive fist fight broke out between us, while the female remained with her vehicle.”
According to Laubscher his father, Pienaar Laubscher, arrived at the scene and tried to break up the fight but also became involved.
“The man then instructed the woman to pull out the firearm she had in the car and when he got hold of it he pointed it at my father and said: “Jy dink jy is braaf, maar jy gaan (explicit). Vandag skiet ek die (explicit) uit jou uit, jou (explicit).” (You think you are brave but you are going to (explicit). Today I am going to shoot the (explicit) out of you, you (explicit).)
“When my father tried to overpower him and take the firearm from him, a magazine fell on the ground during the scuffle. The police arrived shortly afterwards and confiscated the weapon, still containing a magazine.”
According to Jan Visagie (the driver of the Sentra), Pienaar Laubscher allegedly bit him between the legs during the squabble for the weapon, resulting in him having to receive six stitches in the scrotum. Laubscher, however, denies this.
Jan added that Pienaar also pulled out an electric prodder from his vehicle and used it nine times on his mother (Marietjie) during the incident, resulting in visible marks on her body. Laubscher confirmed this, but added that it was “a cheap model, bought at a street vendor and not of very high strength” and that he used it after she tugged at his shirt and tried to hit him.
“I was brought up not to hit woman, but when they start hitting me, I will retaliate,” Pienaar said.
When the DFA interviewed the Visagie family, they declined to state whether Marietjie followed the Sentra, only saying that she “stopped behind the vehicle after it drove in front of her”. She added that she feared for her life during the incident.
The Visagies added that Marietjie always carried a firearm with her when she dropped off her domestic worker.
GP Laubscher sustained injuries to his head and face and lost a front tooth during the fight. His father also sustained injuries to his face and was also allegedly kicked between the legs. Jan sustained injuries to his face, as well as stitches between the legs. He also reported that his watch and shirt were damaged during the incident.
All parties involved subsequently visited the police and opened several cases. GP Laubscher opened a case of assault and pointing of a firearm while Jan Visagie opened a case of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli, yesterday confirmed that two cases, one by a 21-year-old and one by a 19-year-old were opened. He added that the firearm involved in the incident was confiscated by police after they arrived on the scene and that the investigation continues.
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