KUGOMPO CITY – A high school teacher accused of assaulting a woman in a viral video remains employed, while his future as an educator is being considered by the South African Council for Educators (SACE).

Jeremy Riekert, 38, appeared before the KuGompo Magistrates’ Court on 25 September on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was granted R1,000 bail.

Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that Riekert remains a teacher and said SACE would make a final determination regarding his employment once schools reopen.

“The Eastern Cape Education Department is working with SACE to ensure the matter is handled,” Mtima said.

Mtima explained that SACE is responsible for regulating teachers’ professional conduct and their eligibility to practise.

He said schools are currently closed and that once they reopen, a final determination regarding Riekert’s employment will be made by SACE.

Viral video

The case follows a video shared widely on social media which shows Riekert allegedly assaulting a woman.

According to the video, Riekert was seen with the woman, who asked him to step away from her vehicle after getting out and demanded that he return her remote.

The video continues as she says she felt harassed and threatened while he was standing close to her. He was reluctant to hand the remote back.

After she repeatedly told him to keep his distance while opening the boot, he ignored her request, the video shows.

In the video, he laughed when she mentioned that she knew he had a previous record of assaulting a woman, and she ensured that she kept her distance.

She then told him to return the remote or she would drive off in her car. She also reprimanded him, saying she would take his belongings to a second-hand shop.

He allegedly assaulted her shortly after she gave him that “ultimatum”.

Court appearance

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that Riekert appeared before the KuGompo Magistrates’ Court on 25 September on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Gantana confirmed that he was granted R1,000 bail and that his firearm had been handed in at Gonubie SAPS.

“No additional charges have been added at this stage, though further investigation may reveal otherwise,” Gantana said.

Gantana added that a previous correctional supervision sentence imposed on Riekert in 2018 for three years had since been completed.

GBV focus

The case comes amid renewed national attention on gender-based violence and femicide.

On 29 September, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the killings of women in Ekurhuleni and the country’s response to gender-based violence and femicide.

Ramaphosa said the killings were receiving attention at the highest levels of government and law enforcement, while calling for greater action to prevent gender-based violence.

“We cannot police our way out of gender-based violence alone. We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis alone. And we cannot wait until a woman is murdered before the state intervenes.”

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