Johan van der Merwe is currently facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, theft, and property damage, following a distressing incident at a restaurant in Franschhoek. The victim, Ntombizodwa Sephoko, a hairdresser and mother, recounted her harrowing encounter with van der Merwe, stating that she had discovered a cell phone on the floor near his table and attempted to return it when suddenly he forcefully pushed her into a nearby pool.
In a terrifying display of violence, he proceeded to physically attack her, resorting to punching and strangling. Adding to the gravity of the situation, Sephoko reported that van der Merwe had also directed racial slurs, including the highly derogatory K-word, towards her during the assault. The incident unfolded at the Savoye Restaurant situated in Vrede en Lust, where Sephoko had joined her friends to plan an upcoming celebration.
As a result of the assault, Sephoko sustained injuries to her knee and lip, and the psychological trauma she endured cannot be understated. Authorities promptly arrested van der Merwe on May 30, and he was brought before the court on the same day to face the charges against him. However, the restaurant owner, who unfortunately did not witness the incident firsthand, revealed that the CCTV footage capturing the attack had been inadvertently erased. Currently, the police are actively investigating both aspects of this distressing case.
The incident involving Johan van der Merwe and Ntombizodwa Sephoko serves as a stark reminder of the deeply rooted issues of racism and violence that continue to plague South Africa. Black South Africans are really going through the worst form of abuse in their own country. Although the apartheid rule is over, it seems like someone people are yet to get over the thought of racial supremacy.
WATCH | Van der Merwe assaulted and nearly drowned a black woman at Franschhoek restaurant over cell phone
Johan van der Merwe is facing charges of attempted murder, assault, theft and damage to property after he brutally attacked Ntombizodwa Sephoko at a Franschhoek restaurant.… pic.twitter.com/m2MJHDcbKI
— Mamelodi Beacon (@MamelodiBeacon) June 8, 2023