A Pretoria man who was allegedly shot by his boss for arriving late for work says he fears for his life because he has been threatened to drop charges against his boss.
Abel Matlhare, who was shot in the back and leg, allegedly by his boss, Johannes Boshoff, is in hiding after being intimidated.
Boshoff is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. He is also alleged to have shot Thato Bvuma, who was hunting near his property. Bvuma died two weeks later.
After Matlhare was wounded, Boshoff was arrested on an attempted murder charge and released on R2 000 bail.
He was arrested the following day in connection with the death of Bvuma, and was released on bail.
Matlhare said on Thursday that he could not stay in one place because he feared for his life. He said he had received a visit from certain people who encouraged him to meet Boshoff to negotiate the dropping of charges. He was afraid he would be killed if he failed to do so.
Matlhare would not give details of his location and declined to be photographed, saying it would put his life in danger.
“I cannot take that chance. Ever since this incident I am not a free man. I have to move from one place to the next because I have been shot before. I was told to go and meet Boshoff so we can talk about dropping the charges and maybe getting my job back, but I’m scared to go there, I might not return.”
Matlhare said he was struggling to find work as his leg was injured.
He wanted Boshoff to pay damages for his injured leg and his outstanding wages.
“It is hard because I cannot work before I have fully recovered from this injury. How am I going to earn a living in the meantime?”
Matlhare said his situation was also affecting his relationships with people as they were afraid he could be attacked in their company.
Meanwhile, University of Pretoria law professor Wium de Villiers said on Thursday the courts had to consider many aspects when granting bail to suspects.
Posing a danger to society and intimidating witnesses were strong reasons for bail not to be granted, he said.
Although it was in the interests of justice to grant bail, the court also had to look at whether there was a likelihood that the suspect could be a danger to society.
“If one is arrested for attempted murder and while on bail is then arrested for murder, that is a strong indication that it might not be advisable to grant bail,” De Villiers said.
He added, however, that refusing bail was not intended as punishment for an alleged offender.
It served the interests of justice and the rights of a suspect, who was innocent until proved guilty, that he or she could attend his or her trial while being free on bail.
The police have written to the chief prosecutor at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court demanding an explanation why Boshoff was granted bail on the murder charge and allowed to go overseas on holiday without the investigating officer and prosecutor being consulted.
Lawyers for Boshoff said yesterday that the R2 000 bail granted to their client was above board. Boshoff was innocent until proved guilty, they said.
They did not acknowledge or deny allegations that Boshoff threatened Matlhare.
The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail to Boshoff.
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