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A summons has been issued against convicted wife-beater Jaco Swart to appear in court on 14 August on a new charge of assault, this time against a policewoman. But it is unlikely he will appear because he cannot be found in the country in order for the summons to be served on him. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit represents Warrant Officer Sonja Albertyn in this matter, which is being privately prosecuted. 

Last year, Swart pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife Nicoleen Swart, in a widely publicised case that revealed surveillance footage of Swart brutally kicking, punching, and manhandling his wife. 

The police have previously tried to serve summons on Swart in connection with a fraud matter registered in Sinoville in Pretoria, but he could not be located and is believed to be in the United Kingdom (UK). The unit represents the complainant in that case as well. Now, Swart is accused of assaulting Albertyn with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. 

The allegations are that an incident occurred on the morning of 13 January 2022, when Albertyn’s neighbour asked her for help because her friend, Swart, was allegedly intoxicated after a night out and was refusing to leave her flat. At one point, Swart allegedly locked the security gate and prevented the woman from leaving her flat. Albertyn put her hand through the security gate and told Swart not to close the door. Despite this, and knowing she was a police officer, he allegedly used force and slammed the door on her arm causing damage to her tendon. Albertyn called for police backup and Swart eventually left the property. 

Albertyn filed a criminal complaint against Swart at the Brackenfell Police Station, with CAS number 141/01/2022. The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Adv. Nicolette Bell, signed the certificate nolle prosequi on 26 May 2023. In terms of the applicable legislation, there is a three-month time limit within which to initiate the private prosecution against an accused, hence the summons being applied for and issued at the Kuilsrivier Magistrates Court on 9 June 2023. 

The unit has been reliably informed that Swart has left South Africa and is now residing in the UK, where he is allegedly working unlawfully. The unit’s own investigation and geolocation of photos Swart has recently posted to social media further indicates he is in the UK.

Issued by AfriForum