Beaufort West mayor to challenge fiancée assault allegations
Beaufort West former mayor Eben Botha says he will challenge allegations of assault levelled against him in court.
Former Beaufort West mayor Eben Botha has broken his silence following allegations he assaulted his fiancée, saying he will challenge the allegations in court.
Botha, who is a member of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), was elected as the mayor of the municipality in September last year. He was forced to resign by the party after the allegations came to light.
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BOTHA IS REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION AS MAYOR
While the party said they received video evidence of the assault, Botha through his attorney, said he vehemently denies the allegations of assault.
Addressing the matter on Facebook last week, PA leader Gayton McKenzie said they have resolved to remove Botha from the mayoral position.
“I have received information that our mayor in Beaufort West is being accused by his fiancée of assaulting her, more than once. They showed us video evidence. She is alleging that he is abusing her. I am not a court but it is our duty to defend women and if there is any other woman who has been abused by a member of the PA, I need to know,” he said.
McKenzie said Botha’s future in the PA will depend on the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
“I met with the mayor, he first tried to deny, then he admitted he speaking to his fiancée in a way that no way a lady should be spoken to. It is obvious to me looking at the videos that he has an alcohol problem. He denies hitting her. We will remove him and he will appear before the disciplinary hearing,” he said.
THE FORMER MAYOR DENIES ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST HIM
Botha’s attorney Winston Jansen of Jansen & Samson Attorneys said the allegations levelled against the former mayor will be tested in court.
“We categorically deny each and every allegation of assault levelled against my client. My client cannot wait to have this allegation tested in court. This is nothing but a smear campaign against my client. We will vehemently fight to prove his innocence in a court of law” he said.
Jansen also denied claims that Botha had an ‘alcohol problem’, saying he was not a heavy drinker.
“My client is not a heavy drinker. The allegations are baseless and laughable to say the least,” he said.
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