Show goes on in Plettenberg Bay despite sozzled singer’s arrest

A PROMINENT South African rock singer plans to book into rehab following a series of violent drink-fuelled incidents which will see him face assault and malicious damage to property charges.

Former Mean Mr Mustard lead singer Andries Botha was set to perform at popular Plettenberg Bay entertainment venue The Barn on New Year’s Eve, but started celebrating early.

The drinking binge led to him allegedly assaulting a sound engineer and breaking a window at the home of one of the venue’s barmen.

According to witnesses, Botha – who is also part of the band Georgia with his brother, Ghapi, and has a solo career – was eventually found passed out on the stage he was meant to perform on.

He was arrested and put into the back of a police van.

Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said Botha was released on warning on New Year’s Day.

He said Botha would face assault and malicious damage to property charges when he appeared in the magistrate’s court on January 19.

Botha apologised profusely to the people affected by his violent outbursts, but said he had no recollection of any of the incidents.

“I had an incredibly stressful year, which included a very traumatic divorce,” he said yesterday.

“My new girlfriend also left me.

“I don’t know what happened – something like this has never happened before.”

Botha said he planned to book himself into an alcohol abuse recovery centre in the coming weeks.

One of the complainants, Vijver Jonck, said she had met Botha the night before the alleged incidents at a Heuwels Fantasties concert at The Barn.

“He showed up at our house, which is near the venue, the next day, looking very upset,” she said.

“He was teary-eyed and asked to use my cellphone.

“As soon as I let him in, I could see that he had been drinking.”

Jonck said Botha had battled to dial the number and started talking about what a “gangster” he was.

“I tried to ignore him and continued with my laundry, but he then grabbed my laundry basket out of my hands,” she said.

“I yanked it back and he grabbed my arm, pushing his fingernails into my flesh. I managed to break his grip.

“My husband, who was with me at the time, and I then started talking, and Botha swore at us and screamed in my face and called me the most horrible words I have ever heard.

“At that stage, I told him that I would not be disrespected in my own home.”

Jonck said she and her husband, who works at The Barn, managed to coax Botha out the door and shut the security gate.

They phoned The Barn’s manager, Henko Kleingeld, and informed him about the incident.

Meanwhile, Botha – who had not left yet – walked around the house, banging on the windows.

“He eventually broke our bedroom window,” Jonck said. Kleingeld called the police. “I found him passed out on the stage by the time police arrived,” Kleingeld said.

He said Botha had also allegedly pushed around the venue’s sound engineer before his run-in with Jonck.

Kleingeld said Botha was very aggressive and it took four officers to get him into the police van.

Botha rang in the New Year behind bars and was released the next day.

Kleingeld said Botha had apologised to him after his release.

“I gave him back his equipment, which he had left behind, as well as his cellphone, and put R50 airtime on his phone so he could contact someone to fetch him,” he said. “We suffered a financial loss and at this stage are not sure if we will take further action against Botha.”

Botha said he could not recall any of the alleged incidents.

“But I intend to make it right. I want to start fresh and turn my life around,” he said.

Kleingeld said the drama occurred just a few hours before Botha was due to perform at The Barn’s New Year’s Eve event.

“We had paying guests and no performer,” Kleingeld said.

However, former Idols winner Anke Pietrangeli and her family had booked a table for the show.

“They regularly visit Plett over the festive season and attended last year’s [2014] event,” Kleingeld said.

“During the course of the evening, the crowd wanted her to take to the stage and she was happy to do a song or two.

“So I decided to take a chance and ask her to help out.”

Pietrangeli said: “We were braaiing when I saw I had three missed calls from Henko.

“I thought there was a problem with our booking for the evening so I phoned him back, only to hear about the [earlier] incidents.

“I love performing and decided to do it.”

Kleingeld said the show was fantastic and Pietrangeli had not only performed a song or two, but did two sets.

Pietrangeli said it had been a wonderful start to the year as she and the band The Reckoning would be embarking on a tour next month.