Cape Town - The trial of a man who allegedly assaulted and racially insulted his girlfriend's domestic worker was postponed in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Andre van Deventer appeared on charges of common assault and crimen injuria.
His lawyer Henry van der Westhuizen had an ear infection and the court postponed the matter to August 19.
At his last appearance, his girlfriend Mariechin Pienaar's domestic worker Gloria Kente, 50, testified about how he allegedly assaulted and swore at her.
Kente alleged the incident took place last June at the home they all shared in Table View.
She testified at the time that when she asked Van Deventer to look after Pienaar's child while she took a shower, she said she heard him shouting that they were “paying this k****r R2 400 to look after the child”.
“Andre came to me while I was standing in my room door. He grabbed my pyjamas in front of my chest and said he hated a k****r. Then he said 'I hate you as well, Gloria'. Then he spitted (sic) in my face,” she said.
She told the court Van Deventer further mentioned that “these k*****s stole their land and he wishes that (former president Nelson) Mandela died in hospital”.
In cross-examination, Van der Westhuizen said Pienaar and Van Deventer would both testify to a different version that never included assault.
The lawyer said Pienaar would testify that Kente and her boyfriend had shouted at each other and she broke up the fight.
Pienaar would testify further that she went into Kente's room afterwards to see if she was okay and had told her to ignore her boyfriend because he had been drinking.
Van der Westhuizen has yet to conclude his cross-examination.
Kente has also applied to the Equality Court in Cape Town for R100 000 in damages and an unconditional apology from Van Deventer.
The equality case was expected to be heard next month. - Sapa