Johnathan Paoli
Former Springbok coach and Western Cape legislature member Peter de Villiers is expected to be brought before a disciplinary hearing from the GOOD Party following sexual misconduct allegations.
GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron said on Tuesday the outcomes of the hearing would be known soon, following the suspension of de Villiers last month.
The hearing follows a complaint lodged against him by one of the party’s staff members.
It’s not the first time de Villiers has faced sexual misconduct allegations, following similar claims being made against him in 2008 during his stint as Springboks coach, despite the matter subsequently being closed.
It is alleged that he dropped a fellow staff member at home after an event and then sexually assaulted her, with the woman subsequently reporting it to the party’s national structure.
Herron said the party concluded its internal investigation and resolved to institute a formal hearing in accordance with the constitution of the party and that De Villiers was served with a charge sheet on 23 February this year, and oral evidence will commence this week on 7 March.
“GOOD’s constitution is unambiguous on gender relations and gender-based violence. The constitution applies to all members, regardless of position. De Villiers’ suspension is not a finding of guilt; it reflects the seriousness of the allegations. The party will implement disciplinary processes to determine if the provisions of its constitution have been breached,” the SG said.
Herron said the hearing is set for two days and that the party will communicate the findings of the hearing once they have been delivered.
He confirmed that GOOD has appointed an independent disciplinary hearing chairperson, Advocate Lionel Esau, and an independent initiator to fulfill the prosecutorial function, namely Advocate Peter Cyster.
While David Van der Merwe, of attorneys Leon Frank & Partners, is De Villiers’ attorney of record, Advocate Mias Schreuder has been briefed to represent him at the hearing, despite De Villiers himself being unavailable for comment at the time of publishing.
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