Marius Coetzee se prokureurs het die volgende brief vrygestel na aanleiding van:
- Hooggeregshof stel tugsaak teen Marius Coetzee ter syde; nuwe ondersoek gelas (5 Jun 2026, Hanri Joubert, Kerkbode)
*******
H J VAN RENSBURG INC.
ATTORNEYS & CONVEYANCERS
YOUR REF.
OUR REF. AJ van Rensburg/djvr/K034
Date: 05 June 2026
REV. HANRI JOUBERT
BY EMAIL: hanri.joubert@gmail.com, ngkadmin@kaapkerk.co.za
Dear Rev Joubert
MISLEADING/INCORRECT POST ON KERKBODE DATED 5 JUNE 2026
“HOOGGEREGSHOF STEL TUGSAAK TEEN MARIUS COETZEE TER SYDE – NUWE ONDERSOEK GELAS”
We refer to the above-mentioned publication and confirm that we act on behalf of Rev. M.X. Coetzee as well as the Church Council of the Dutch Reformed Church of Karatara-Sedgefield.
It has come to our clients’ attention that the aforesaid post, and in particular point 3 thereof, creates the impression that the Presbytery of Knysna is obliged, in terms of the court order, to proceed with disciplinary action against our client on the charge of skeurmakery.
With respect, this interpretation is not supported by the wording of the court order, which makes no specific reference to the said charge. The relevant portion of the order provides as follows:
“The matter is remitted to a new presbytery disciplinary body (ringtugliggaam) of the Dutch Reformed Church to be convened and constituted in accordance with the Church Order and Regulations, for the de novo investigation of the complaints submitted in respect of the applicant and, if warranted, to hold a formal disciplinary hearing.”
For the sake of clarity, a de novo investigation entails a completely fresh and independent reconsideration of the matter from the beginning, without reliance upon or deference to any previous findings. Furthermore, the phrase “if warranted” expressly contemplates that the newly constituted disciplinary body must first investigate and assess the complaints afresh before determining whether a formal disciplinary hearing is justified.
The court order therefore does not direct that any particular charge, including the charge of skeurmakery, must proceed to a disciplinary hearing. Rather, it requires a new investigation to determine whether any disciplinary process is warranted at all. Any interpretation suggesting that the court has already determined that a disciplinary hearing must proceed on a specific charge is inconsistent with the wording of the order.
Furthermore, your report does not accurately reflect the costs orders granted by the Court. For completeness, the order provides as follows:
1. The third to tenth respondents are ordered, jointly and severally, the one paying the others to be absolved, to pay the applicant’s costs of the review application, including the costs of two counsel where so employed, on the High Court Scale C.
2. The third to tenth respondents are ordered, jointly and severally, the one paying the others to be absolved, to pay the applicants’ costs of the urgent interdict application (Case No. 2025/112215), such costs to include the costs of two counsel, where so employed, on the High Court Scale C, which costs are costs in the cause in this review application.
In the interests of transparency, we attach a copy of the court order for your consideration.
It is our view that the current publication is capable of misleading readers regarding both the effect of the judgment and the outcome of our clients’ application. We accordingly request that the publication be corrected to accurately reflect the contents of the court order and the costs orders granted by the Court.
Our clients reserve all of their rights in this regard.
Yours faithfully
HJ VAN RENSBURG INC.
per: A JANZEN VAN RENSBURG
Physical Address:
1st Floor, Sentio Building
C/o FW Beyers Street & Frikkie Meyer Boulevard
Vanderbijlpark
1911
Postal Address:
PO Box 1534
Vanderbijlpark
1900
Tel: (016) 933-4030
E-mail: desiree@hjvrlaw.co.za
ANTONIE JANZEN VAN RENSBURG (LLB) – Director
CHANTELLE HERBST (BCOM LLB) – Attorney & Conveyancer
CONSULTANT : HERMAN JANZEN VAN RENSBURG (B.PROC MBA.)
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2019/398697/21
VAT Number: 402 030 7684
B-BBEE LEVEL 4