Boeremag bride left at altar
2003-10-09 17:19
Pretoria - A bride was left at the proverbial altar on Thursday when authorities apparently withdrew permission for her wedding to Boeremag treason trialist Herman van Rooyen at the 11th hour.
"I am heartbroken," 25-year-old Nelmari Raubenheimer told reporters at the Palace of Justice in Pretoria, minutes before they were to have wed at 15:00.
Her wedding dress and bouquet wilting in the car, Raubenheimer expressed frustration at the about-turn and accused the State of reneging on an agreement.
"I am very angry and disappointed. We have been waiting for this for a year."
All dressed up
Everything was ready for the big event, she said. The minister had arrived from Lephalale in Limpopo, and Van Rooyen was all dressed up when he was sent back to his cell and told to take off his suit.
The couple were to have tied the knot on September 28 last year, but Van Rooyen went into hiding 12 days before the wedding. He was wanted in connection with an alleged rightwing plot to overthrow the government, and was arrested on December 12.
Raubenheimer told reporters she had bought a substitute wedding dress for Thursday, as she was saving the original for a second wedding, "the real thing", after the trial.
She was confident Van Rooyen would not go to jail.
Raubenheimer drove for the wedding from her Limpopo home town, Bela-Bela, around noon, and was given the news about an hour later.
Eight months of wrangling
Defence attorney Paul Kruger claimed permission had been given for the union after about eight months of wrangling, and arrangements were agreed upon with the police.
On Wednesday evening, they were informed by Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe that the Palace of Justice could not be used for the purpose.
Kruger said it was then agreed that the wedding be held at another venue, and a church was arranged.
"Then, this afternoon we were informed that the judge president is refusing that Herman be taken out of jail for any purpose whatsoever," the attorney told reporters.
"And the department of correctional services is refusing to allow any of its amenities to be used for the wedding."
Alternative arrangements
Kruger said talks would continue with the State to try and make alternative arrangements. If no wedding had taken place by next Tuesday, a court application might be brought.
Correctional services spokesperson Russel Mamabolo said departmental policy did not allow sentenced prisoners to marry.
"The policy on unsentenced prisoners is not 100% clear. We are working on that," he said.
Police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer said the police were prepared to assist Van Rooyen and his bride with transport and guarding, "if a facility was available in appropriate hours".
"Now that the facility has been withdrawn, the matter really has very little to do with us."
A justice department spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Among the wedding guests at the court on Thursday were four of Van Rooyen's co-accused.
A neatly groomed Raubenheimer, dressed in jeans and a casual top, said she had started the day in a happy and excited mood.
"And then it all just fell flat," she said, before departing with Kruger to visit Van Rooyen at Pretoria's C-Max prison.
Van Rooyen is standing trial with 21 others on 42 charges ranging from murder and treason to terrorism and the illegal possession of arms, ammunition and explosives.
- SAPA