Express
retracts the article titled “Report on reverend under scrutiny”, published in the edition of 19 October (p 3).
The article wrongly gave the impression that Reverend Simon Melaletsa was found guilty of striking his Dutch Reformed Church fellow colleague Jantjie Malokase with a car on 24 November 2019.
It was understood that the magistrate changed the initial charge of attempted murder to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Furthermore, information received from the provincial spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that a probation officer of the Free State Department of Correctional Services fuelled controversy by submitting a pre-sentence report to the Thaba Nchu Magistrate’s Court found to be biased.
This was factually incorrect and ambiguous. Readers might have interpreted it to mean Melaletsa was found guilty of the charges mentioned. He was found not guilty on charges of: attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving.
The errors are regretted, and Expressapologises to Melaletsa, as well as to the other parties concerned.
