By Murray Williams
Staff Writer
"I owe the public my regrets. But please don't just write me off."
This was the plea on Tuesday from former ANC MP and former Stellenbosch municipal manager Bruce Kannemeyer, after pleading guilty to theft charges and being dealt a R40 000 fine in the Cape High Court.
Kannemeyer admitted on Tuesday: "I should have been more alert. I erred in the way I managed the relationship between myself and the travel agent."
He said he had considered not accepting the plea bargain.
"But my name has been linked to this for the past eight months.
"I have young children, and because of me they have been under pressure. It's not fair that they suffer for a transgression I have made.
"In the eyes of the state (what I did) constitutes a crime. The fact that I've since paid (back) every single cent of that money is neither here no there, I guess." He said the undue gain had been around R70 000.
Asked what the conviction had done to his sense of self-worth, he said: "I just feel this theft conviction characterises my whole life.
"There will be some who will be unforgiving. But I hope people will judge me on the balance of my total contribution - and not just reduce me to the thief the court has made me. I hope there is space to have a second chance."