Cape Town - Alexi Bizos, who assaulted his now former wife more than nine years ago at their home, which left her with severe injuries, including six broken ribs, was eventually sentenced to a hefty fine and he has to perform community service at a shelter for abused women.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court sentenced Bizos, son of the late struggle stalwart George Bizos, on Friday to the R100 000 fine or one year imprisonment, as well as to six months correctional supervision, which includes 20 hours a month of community service at shelters for abused women.
AfriForum’s private prosecuting unit, which represented Bizos’ ex-wife, Monique van Oosterhout, welcomed the sentence and said it sends out a strong message to perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Magistrate Tshepo Twala said Bizos had shown no remorse for his crime and failed to acknowledge the wrongfulness of his actions. The magistrate said the accused showed no insight into the crime he had committed, nor an appreciation of the impact it had on Van Oosterhout.
Twala said domestic violence is a scourge that is far too prevalent, which demands robust punishment of the perpetrators.
“You cannot ignore that this was a vulnerable woman who was in the safety of her own home when she was assaulted. Gender-based violence gives the perpetrators power. In this case, the accused assaulted the complainant because he questioned her and undermined his authority,” he said.
Bizos, 63, was spared imprisonment because of his age and that he was a first-time offender.
Van Oosterhout expressed relief that the case was finally over. “I want to thank AfriForum for their perseverance and continued support. Not just for me, but for all women,” she said.
Bizos, who had pleaded not guilty to the assault, claimed that she was the aggressor and said that he had acted in self-defence.
The private prosecution unit meanwhile filed an application for a costs order against Bizos and the National Prosecuting Authority to cover the costs of the private prosecution. The matter was postponed to March 28 for the ruling.