‘I was forced into robbery’

[caption id="attachment_107327" align="alignright" width="203"] Ryno Botha[/caption]

Witness tells of threat against his children

FORMER Mr Eastern Cape Ryno Botha yesterday detailed in court how drugs, gangsterism and alcohol forced his hand in the alleged break-in and terrorising of his Facebook friend in her Seaview home by a group of his acquaintances.

When taking the witness stand at the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday, Botha, who turned state witness, briefly glanced at the dock where the three accused – Cedric Johnson, 29, Rodwell “Boef” Peters, 31, and Oscar Alexander, 31 – were seated.

Botha was initially charged alongside the three, but the charges were later withdrawn.

The accused allegedly broke into the home of Adel van Rensburg on June 1 2013, threatened her with a firearm, tied her up and ransacked her home. -Tremaine van Aardt