Domestic worker case postponed

The last witness in the case, brought by domestic worker Gloria Kente against Andre van Deventer, was cross-examined on Friday.

 

Mariechen Pienaar, Kente's former employer, originally testified for Van Deventer -- her boyfriend at the time of the alleged racial abuse.

 

During cross-examination by Peter Williams, for Kente, on Friday, Pienaar conceded that on June 28, 2013 Van Deventer had called Kente a "kaffir" several times. She could however not recall exactly what Van Deventer had said to Kente.

 

Williams put it to Pienaar that her former boyfriend and father of her child had called Kente a "lazy kaffir". Pienaar said she could not remember the exact words.

 

"I know there was the f-word. I know there was the k-word," Pienaar conceded.

 

Pienaar did not witness Van Deventer allegedly grabbing Kente by the neck of her pyjamas, spitting at her, or calling her "a kaffir" repeatedly.

 

Kente had worked for Pienaar for nine years as a domestic worker and nanny. Kente says Van Deventer racially abused her for some time during the couple's rocky relationship.

 

Williams said he would submit to the court that Pienaar had a "selective memory" where incidents between Kente and Van Deventer were concerned.

 

Van Deventer previously admitted to using the word but denied the assault, which led to a criminal matter in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court, where he faces charges of crimen injuria and common assault.

 

Kente also turned to the Equality Court last year claiming Van Deventer had violated the Equality Act.

 

Kente is seeking R100,000 in damages and an unconditional apology from Van Deventer.