Welkom – A Welkom lawyer serving three life sentences for sexual offences against minors failed to appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for his bail application on fraud charges involving R15 million.
Jan Gysbert Maritz (57) was not transported to Welkom from Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein for his scheduled bail hearing. The application has been postponed to 28 and 29 October.
Maritz was arrested on Thursday, 9 October, on charges relating to fraud, theft, money laundering, and contraventions of the Legal Practice Act involving approximately R15 million.
Municipal Tender Investigation
According to a statement from the Directorate for Priority Crimes (Hawks), the charges stem from a deceased’s estate concerning a tender awarded to a security company by Matjhabeng Municipality worth millions of rand.
The municipality had an outstanding amount exceeding R21 million after services were rendered. The security company challenged this debt in the Free State High Court, securing judgement in its favour plus seven per cent interest since 17 November 2020.
The amount of over R21 million allegedly included R15 million from a settlement agreement which was purportedly paid into a FNB account provided by Maritz. Investigations revealed that the FNB account belonged to a different company of which Maritz was the sole director.
Sexual Offences Conviction
In a separate case, the South African Police Service welcomed the sentence handed down by Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday, 17 October, when Maritz received three life sentences plus 61 years’ imprisonment for sexual offences against five minor children.
The stepfather from Dagbreek in Welkom was sentenced on 16 counts following a lengthy court process after being found guilty on all charges initially laid in 2019.
Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, Free State Provincial Corporate Communication and Media Liaison, said the case was reported to the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit on 25 March 2019.
“The mother of two victims reported that her daughters had disclosed they were being sexually abused by their stepfather whilst at their residence in Dagbreek, Welkom,” Kareli explained.
Sentencing Details
The successful prosecution was handled by Advocate Amanda Bester of the National Prosecution Authority, working with Captain Fanie van der Merwe. The sentences imposed were:
• Life imprisonment for rape (three counts)
• Indecent assault: five years’ imprisonment
• Sexual grooming: eight years’ imprisonment (two counts)
• Exposure of pornography to a child: five years’ imprisonment (two counts)
• Sexual exploitation of a child: five years’ imprisonment
• Production of child pornography: five years’ imprisonment
• Sexual assault: three years’ imprisonment (five counts)
• Compelled sexual assault: five years’ imprisonment
Official Response
Provincial Commissioner Lt-General Baile Motswenyane said the heinous nature of the crimes, committed over years by someone in a position of trust and authority, demanded a firm response.
“We trust that this conviction provides a measure of closure and justice for the five young victims and their families. We appreciate the courage of the victims in speaking out and the relentless efforts of Captain van der Merwe and the prosecution team for ensuring a dangerous offender is removed from society,” he said.
The SAPS encourages anyone with knowledge of child abuse or sexual offences to report it immediately to their nearest police station or the FCS Unit.
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