Chilling details emerged during a bail application hearing at the Strand Magistrate’s Court involving the chairperson of the Strand Community Police Forum (CPF), who faces multiple sexual offence charges involving a 15-year-old girl.

The accused, a former police officer, Niklaas Thysen, stands charged with exposure or display of genital organs to a minor, two counts of compelled self-sexual assault after instructing the victim to massage him to become aroused, two counts of crimes injuria for asking the minor to undress, and sexual assault, including massaging her breasts.

The 56-year-old man reportedly came to know the minor when her mother, concerned about her daughter’s drug use, sought counseling assistance from the accused, seeing him as a trusted community leader and volunteer counselor.

The victim’s mother recounted her initial interactions with the accused and her daughter’s troubling behaviour: “My mother knew him because he is the community leader. My daughter at the time was smoking dagga, and I asked for help.”

She said the accused “came to fetch her on 3 July and when she came home, she said nothing, but the following day, she tried to commit suicide”.

The mother further described reluctance to see Thysen from her daughter: “She didn’t want to talk to me about the attempted suicide and I called the accused, and she warned me not to call him, she didn’t want him to come, but I thought it was because she didn’t want to go back for counselling again.”

She added that the accused had asked if her daughter could spend the night at his house, but her husband refused “because he doesn’t have a wife and lives alone”.

It was only after a second troubling incident on July 26 that the abuse was disclosed.

The mother said the victim resisted going with the accused again, telling her she had tried to kiss her previously. “I was in denial because I know him, as a community activist,” the victim’s mother explained.

The daughter reportedly said to her mom: “If I get raped, it’s because mommy keeps sending me with him.”

Following these revelations, the mother halted all contact and reported the matter to the police on July 30, 2025, the day she found out.

The accused was subsequently arrested on August 6 and has been held in custody since then.

During the bail application proceedings, the accused, represented by a private attorney, denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty.

He read the accused’s affidavit: “I am the breadwinner. I work as a Tai Chi master and have a medical massage centre. I have never been arrested, no convictions or outstanding matters. I will adhere to bail conditions and attend court. I will not endanger or jeopardise the case, nor tamper with evidence or witnesses. I dispute the allegations and will plead not guilty.”

He also stated: “I stepped down from the position of chairperson from the CPF when I was informed I was being investigated… I was informed of some of the charges, and it was that I attempted to kiss the complainant. I am a volunteer as a counsellor. The mother of the complainant trusted her daughter with me, as she is a drug user. I took her to the meeting. I didn’t force her and spoke to her mother before taking her.”

However, the investigating officer presented a markedly different narrative to the court.

He testified: “On Thursday, 3 July, the victim went with the accused and her mother to a homeless shelter for counselling. The accused dropped the mother off at her place, and then they went to the accused’s workplace.

“Upon arrival, he told the victim he was waiting for two clients. He took out massage oil and told her to undress herself because he was going to give her a treatment.”

The detective detailed that the victim only removed her top, and the accused massaged the victim’s back, neck, and shoulders.

“He turned her around, removed the towel covering her, and tried to kiss her,” she said. “The victim pulled away and said no. She grabbed the towel from him and told him she wanted to go home.”

The officer also described a separate incident on July 26, 2025: “The accused picked up the victim and her friend to go to his workplace. Upon arrival, he said he was going to give them a session. The friend declined; the victim went to the bathroom. When they returned to the room, the accused was partially undressed, wearing only striped blue underwear. He instructed the girls to massage him.”

According to the detective, the victim “felt uncomfortable as the accused was touching her inappropriately”.

He said the accused touched the victim’s breasts during a subsequent massage and continued “to convince her that it was normal for a lady to receive such treatment”.

Before leaving, the accused bought the girls KFC and dropped them home.

The victim’s mother expressed her anguish and disbelief: “She attempted suicide on 4 July. I was unaware of the sexual abuse until 30 July. She eventually told me what had happened, and I went to the police immediately.”

The court heard of a 31-page petition with numerous signatures from community members opposing his release, fearing possible unrest.

The detective recommended that, if bail were granted, it should be set outside the Strand area to avoid jeopardising public peace.

The magistrate questioned the timeline of events, noting concerns about the delayed reporting and the circumstances of arrest, and the police explained that investigative processes were ongoing before the arrest was made.

The proceedings are set to continue in court on Friday morning for a further bail application and judgment.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za 

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