Kouga Councillor Guilty After Cyclist Assault Incident
Court Delivers Guilty Verdict
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the conviction of Khoisan traditional leader and Kouga Local Municipality councillor Wayne Pietersen (47) on assault charges linked to an incident involving cyclists in a public nature reserve near Papiesfontein.
On 15 May 2026, the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court found Pietersen guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault. o
Cyclists Forced Off The Road
According to NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the incident took place on 29 June 2024 in the Kouga area.
Evidence presented before the court showed that Pietersen drove towards cyclists in a black BMW SUV and forced them off the roadway before confronting them.
Tyali said Pietersen believed the cyclists were trespassing on land occupied by members of the Khoisan community and riding over ancestral graves.
During the confrontation, Pietersen grabbed one complainant by the arm while attempting what he described as a citizen’s arrest. He later armed himself with a knobkierie and confronted another cyclist, who sustained injuries after falling from a bicycle.
State Evidence Supports Conviction
State Prosecutor Siyabulela Swartbooi presented evidence from the complainants, an eyewitness and a medical practitioner who compiled the J88 medico-legal report.
Meanwhile, Pietersen conducted his own defence and denied the allegations. He argued that the matter formed part of an ongoing land dispute involving Khoisan community members occupying the property.
However, the court rejected his version and found that the State had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Court Criticises Conduct During Trial
Tyali said the proceedings included several delays after Pietersen made procedural requests, including an application for a Khoisan-speaking interpreter. The court later established that he neither spoke nor understood the language.
The court also criticised Pietersen’s conduct during the trial, noting repeated interruptions and unrelated racial remarks.
Sentencing proceedings were postponed to 2 June 2026 after Pietersen informed the court that he had placed an attorney on record.
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