Pienaar in SA to face assault charges

RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 01, Steven Pienaar during the South African national training and player interviews from Royal Marang Sports Complex on June 01, 2011 in Rustenburg, South Africa Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 01, Steven Pienaar during the South African national training and player interviews from Royal Marang Sports Complex on June 01, 2011 in Rustenburg, South Africa Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

Published Jul 5, 2012

Share

Bafana Bafana midfielder Steven Pienaar jetted in to SA this week to face charges of assault, only for the case to be postponed because the police are yet to complete their investigation.

Pienaar stands accused of assaulting Thabang Mnisi, the son of Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo, at a popular Sandton nightclub, Icon, last month.

According to Mnisi’s statement, Pienaar had been part of a group of friends who kicked and punched him in the head.

At Pienaar’s second appearance at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, the police had still not completed identity parades and other investigative work to determine if Pienaar had been involved in the beating.

However, his lawyer, Cliff Alexander, said the soccer player had not been part of the violence.

He also alleged that the complainant, Mnisi, had not turned up at the Sandton police station on Tuesday, which could mean that the charges against Pienaar may be dropped. Mnisi did not arrive at Wednesday’s court appearance either.

Pienaar is set to return to the UK at the end of the week but will have to return to SA in September when the case continues.

[email protected]

The Star

Related Topics: