[imagesource: Supplied to News24]

Following an extensive investigation, News24 has dubbed 69-year-old Marius Pistorius (above) ‘the Melkbos Monster’.

He stands accused of sexually assaulting multiple children who attended Babbel & Krabbel crèche in Melkbosstrand near Cape Town, founded by his wife, 63-year-old Annet Pistorius (also above).

The allegations against Marius and Annet have been covered in great detail. Following that story breaking, News24 followed up and was surprised to learn that as many as 75% of the children who attended the crèche were still doing so after that story broke.

Parents spoke of the struggle of finding a new school for their kids on such short notice and Annet continued to deny any wrongdoing, sending letters to parents.

Over the weekend, it emerged that Annet has had the matter taken out of her hands, reports News24:

The Hervormde Church has given crèche owner Annet Pistorius the boot. Her play school can stay for 12 more months, the church decided Saturday, but she must leave immediately.

Image: Tammy Petersen / News24

Annet, 63, confirmed on Sunday morning that she had accepted the church’s demand that she and her husband, Marius Pistorius, “do not enter the premises during school hours or have interaction with any of the children within the context of the school”.

The church has been the crèche’s landlord since 1995. On Saturday, Annet was given the ultimatum of being evicted unless she “immediately withdraws from the operational activities and supervision at the school”.

Operations must now be run by somebody who has not been implicated in the abuse allegations.

Asked whether she would be at the school on Monday morning, [Annet] said: “The children and parents of the school are incredibly important to me. What you are doing to the innocent staff is unthinkable. I hope that if I distance myself, they can teach in peace, without cars that spy and hang around there.”

In 2011, five sets of parents laid charges of sexual abuse against Marius.

In 2018, two further charges were laid, but the NPA twice declined to prosecute Marius, citing “unreliable” toddlers.

Johann Smith, the scribe of the Hervormde church’s Cape Town parish, told News24 that the ultimatum given to Annet does “not imply a conviction or exoneration of Mr Pistorius”.

A social worker from a designated child protection organisation in the area will consult with the church to find a new owner and new management for Babbel & Krabbel.

Hopefully, News24’s reporting also leads to the NPA reopening the investigation into the matter. NPA Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila has previously said that an investigation could be reopened “should new evidence come to light”.

[source:news24]