Woman in tears at trial of prison ‘sex pest’

By Hendrick Mphande
Source: The Herald Online

THE St Albans sexual harassment saga took another twist yesterday when the complainant, Debbie Louw, broke down and wept openly during intense cross-examination.
Alleged sex pest and former head of St Albans Medium B, Tamsanqa Khoza, of Avontuur Street, Bridgemead, is charged with seven counts of indecent assault and crimen injuria.
Defence attorney Clive Pillay grilled Mrs Louw on why she agreed to be promoted as head of personnel in Mr Khoza’s section.
Mr Pillay said Mrs Louw knew very well Mr Khoza was a “pest with sex connotation”.
“Immediately when you took over your new position, my client demonstrated the same conduct towards you,” Mr Pillay said.
At this stage Mrs Louw suddenly broke down and cried openly.
Magistrate Josua Ritcher ordered an adjournment for Mrs Louw to regain her composure.

Earlier Mrs Louw recalled numerous incidents in which Mr Khoza pestered her for kisses and hugs while she was still working in the hospital section at St Albans.
All this time, Mrs Louw said, she never regarded Mr Khoza’s “improper advances” as serious and she thought she could cope and handle the bespectacled 50-year-old Mr Khoza.
“At what stage did you start to realise that my client was serious about his conduct?” asked Mr Pillay.
She replied: “The time I went to give him forms in his office when he suddenly locked the door behind me and he grabbed me with the intention to kiss.”
Mrs Louw said the mere presence of her former boss made her uncomfortable and she said his conduct was unprofessional.
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