A man from Despatch who was seen on a viral video allegedly assaulting a person outside a sports bar earlier this month has made his first appearance in court.
Willie Barnard, 31, appeared in the Kariega Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm.
The incident happened in the early hours of the morning on 12 November outside a pub in Despatch.
In the viral video, a man, believed to be Barnard, can be seen violently assaulting the 40-year-old complainant by throwing him out of the bar.
The victim was then punched and kicked multiple times in the head before several other patrons tried to intervene.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg says the victim was treated in hospital and has since been discharged.
Barnard was arrested last week and released on warning.
The matter was postponed to the 24th of January 2024, for further investigation.
Two months ago a BackaBuddy fundraising campaign was set up for Barnard, allegedly by his wife.
In her motivation, she claimed that Barnard got caught up in the "claws of a devil drug called Tik".
The campaign sought to raise R8 000 for an alleged private rehab programme in Johannesburg.
