fate
Thuli Nhlapo and Thebe Mabanga Tanya Oosthuizen looked very relaxed, exchanging pleasantries with family members and acquaintances who had come to offer their support ahead of her appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. She embraced her father, Warmbaths millionaire Mark Oosthuizen, who had come to court with her stepmother Joey Oosthuizen. She seemed indifferent to the possible 25-year prison term she is facing. Oosthuizen (19) is charged with soliciting, by ”using sexual manipulation”, the services of four juveniles to commit a series of robberies between late March and early April. The proceeds from the spree, estimated at R150 000, were to be used to rescue Oosthuizen’s imprisoned guttersnipe boyfriend, Andre Venter. The chief culprit in her gang’s operation, William Prinsloo, was last week sentenced to 24 years in prison.
A dramatic turn of events this week was Mark Oosthuizen’s decision to break his silence for the first time since his daughter’s scandal erupted. With a tearful wife by his side, Oosthuizen started by acknowledging, ”[This episode] is very difficult for the whole family” before adding that ”We are managing because we have faith and we believe not everything said against [Tanya] is true.” Oosthuizen then emphasised that although he is not pleading innocence for his daughter, he doubts if the extent of her guilt is as stated, and flatly denied any sexual misdemeanour. When asked if his decision to lavish his daughter with material goods such as the car, flat and R50 000 he gave her this year could have had a negative impact on her character, Oosthuizen was unrepentant: ”I did not give her everything. ”But I gave her the best I could. And I do not think she is spoilt as is reported,” he said, blaming peer pressure for his daughter’s actions. He then pledged to stand by her. During the proceedings, public prosecutor Gerrit Krugel expressed concern about the decision to allow Tanya to undergo psychiatric observation at Weskoppies mental hospital, citing poor security as his main reservation. He then recommended that the 30-day process instead be undertaken at the Pretoria Local prison. Magistrate Kallie Bosch upheld the recommendation and scheduled her next court appearance for August 18.
n The Mail & Guardian last week incorrectly reported that Oosthuizen was head girl of Pretoria High School. She was in fact only head of one of the hostels at the school, which she left in 1998. The M&G apologises for the error.