Singer ordered to undergo rehab after assault on woman

A PROMINENT South African rock singer who landed himself in hot water following a drunken brawl before a New Year’s Eve performance in Plettenberg Bay was given a second chance yesterday. That happened when the charges were withdrawn – but there were conditions for former Mean Mr Mustard lead singer Andries Botha. Not only is he required to book himself into rehab, but he had to replace a window he broke during one of his outbursts. He will also have to stage a free performance in aid of a Garden Route charity, an event he said later he planned to stage in April . Botha appeared briefly in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of assault and malicious damage to property. He was set to perform at The Barn on New Year’s Eve, but is believed to have started celebrating early.

His drinking led to a run-in with a sound engineer, the assault of the venue barman’s wife, Vijver Jonck, the breaking of a window at her home and his subsequent arrest, meaning he could not perform at the venue. The complainant, Jonck, however indicated yesterday that she had decided to ask for the charges to be withdrawn – if Botha received “the help he needed”. She said: “My main motivation for reporting the matter to police was to serve as a wake-up call for Andries. “He clearly needed help and now that he is willing to get treatment, I’m happy to drop the charges.” Jonck said Botha had already paid for the window being replaced. Botha said later he had not drunk alcohol since the incident.