Becker must help old-age home
2005-04-19 22:39
Pretoria - Christoff Becker, one of the so-called Waterkloof Four, has been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service at the Huis Hermon old-age home in Pretoria North.
Becker, 19, was arrested last month on a charge of drunken driving. He was taken into custody in Hatfield after failing to stop at a red traffic light.
He was released on R1 000 bail the following day. After an evaluation by a parole officer, the State and the defence reached an agreement that he would complete a community service programme.
However, Becker also is facing a separate court issue.
He has been charged with murder and assault with intent to injure along with Frikkie du Preez, 19, Gert van Schalkwyk, 19, and Reinach Tiedt, 18, making up the so-called Waterkloof Four.
Regarding the drunken-driving charge, Bekker also has to complete a life-skills programme and attend a course on alcohol safety at the department of social development.
Report-back on the programmes
Becker will have to appear in court next month to determine whether these programmes were completed successfully.
If it is found that this route was unsuccessful, he then could face a criminal charge.
Sarie Bezuidenhout, nutrition services manager at Huis Hermon, said this ruling was not beneficial only to them, but also to the person concerned.
This person is usually used in the kitchen to help prepare fresh vegetables or to wash dishes.
"The elderly are interested in people that come to work here and they like chatting to them.
Have proved successful
"They (those doing the community service) gain psychologically from this and it is a good experience," said Bezuidenhout.
Community-service programmes have proved successful, especially with first-time offenders.
Retha Meintjes, deputy director of public prosecution, said these programmes gave people the chance to accept responsibility for their deeds without having a criminal record.