A tennis coach contracted to a private Johannesburg school is due to appear in court on Friday after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend 16 times.
Brandon Kruger, 41, is charged with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm after allegedly stabbing the woman, who asked not to be named, during an altercation on October 25.
Police spokesperson Col Mavela Masondo said: “It is alleged the couple were in an argument on October 25 when the male stabbed the female with a sharp object.
He said the victim was stabbed “several times” but could not confirm how many.
However, Olivia Jasriel from non-profit organisation Woman and Men Against Child Abuse, who is assisting the victim, said she was stabbed 16 times. She was hospitalised but has been discharged.
“The suspect attacked the victim during an argument. During the struggle he somehow managed to badly cut his own hand,” Jasriel said.
The victim told TimesLive Premium: “Everything is just too much for me at the moment. I'm not ready to speak right now, I'm trying to deal with everything that's happened.”
Kruger is employed by his mother, former tennis player and now coach, Marlene Brighton, to coach at Pinnacle College Founders Hill.
Brighton said: “To be honest, I don’t know what happened, because I wasn’t there. This is a difficult situation.
“All I know is I received a phone call telling me this happened. I am at school now, and my lessons are waiting, I am going to go now,” Brighton said before ending the call.
Pinnacle College Founders Hill executive head Anton van Rensburg said the school is aware of the situation.
“Pinnacle College Founders Hill confirms it is aware of an alleged incident and a case brought against an employee of a service provider to the school, which is being investigated by the SA police.
“We have taken the necessary precautionary measures in this regard. Please rest assured that the safety of our students and employees remains of the utmost importance,” Van Rensburg wrote.
