ANC Provincial Secretary Faiez Jacobs will stand trial for allegedly physically assaulting a worker in his office.
Jacobs made a brief appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he was told the matter will go to trial.
Jacobs is facing a charge of common assault following allegations that he klapped Wesley Seale, a researcher employed by the African National Congress, in November last year.
Pictures of a bleeding Seale circulated on social media with a post below explaining he was allegedly assaulted by Jacobs for not completing a report Jacobs had asked him to write.
Criminal charges were laid against Jacobs in January and since then he has made about four appearances in court, awaiting a decision by the National Director of Public Prosecutions on whether to prosecute him or not.
Jacobs’ lawyer, Rafeek Hendricks, asked the NDPP for a review of the decision to prosecute him.
And yesterday the court heard the decision had been taken to go ahead with the trial.
Jacobs walked into the dock and stood before Magistrate N Booi.
State prosecutor, Ms. V van der Berg, said: “The matter is on the roll for a decision by the NDPP and a decision was taken and the state is ready to proceed with the trial.”
“The defence has requested time to consult with the accused and a date of November 23 has been set for consultation.”
In April, the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee found Jacobs guilty of assaulting Wesley.
He got an 18-month suspension, suspended for three years.
It is not clear how Jacobs intends to plead. Neither Jacobs nor Hendricks commented yesterday.