‘It will happen again to more African children’: Family of 16-year-old beaten outside Limpopo restaurant

31 January 2023 - 12:56 By SINSIPHO SCHRIEBER
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Corrie Pretorius was sentenced to 12 months in prison or a R12,000 fine.
Corrie Pretorius was sentenced to 12 months in prison or a R12,000 fine.
Image: Deaan Vivier

The family of a 16-year-old boy beaten outside a Limpopo restaurant by a man who pointed a gun at him are planning to appeal against the man's sentence.   

On Monday, the Groblersdal magistrate’s court sentenced Corrie Pretorius to 12 months' imprisonment or a R12,000 fine for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Pretorius was captured in a video circulated on social media beating up the teenager and pointing a firearm at him at the Groblersdal Game Shopping Centre on June 15.  

The assault had ensued after an argument about seasoning at the fast-food outlet.

Corrie Pretorius was recorded kicking and stomping on the teenager, while holding a firearm.
Corrie Pretorius was recorded kicking and stomping on the teenager, while holding a firearm.
Image: Screenshot via Twitter

NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Pretorius was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. The prosecuting authority believed the sentence would send a strong message to would-be offenders, he said.

The victim's family do not believe this will stop what they described as an attack prompted by racism. 

“White people beating up black people is a recurring thing in Groblersdal. Some were even killed and this sentence does not set an example for it to stop,” Lerato Makweng, the victim's older sister, said.

Makweng told TimesLIVE the family were disappointed with the sentence and would meet to discuss appealing against it. She said the family fears other black children in Groblersdal could suffer a similar fate.

Makweng said her brother's asthma had worsened as a result of being kicked in the chest.

“Before he was assaulted, he was no longer taking the medication and was recovering — but after that he had to start over again and take more medication. When he got home that night, he told us when he was on the floor and being beaten he could not breathe or stand up for about 10 minutes because of the asthma.”

Here is how people reacted on social media:

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