WINDHOEK – The ‘white’ man who was recently in the news for trying to “rescue” a purebred, well-fed and well-groomed Elsatian dog from its ‘black’ owner made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of racial discrimination.
Andrea Brettschneider was not asked to plead and the court was informed that Willem Visser would represent Brettschneider.
Lawyer Sarel Maritz was supposed to stand in for Visser, but earlier informed State Prosecutor George Mhoney that he is involved in a High Court matter.
Brettschneider was arrested yesterday after he requested David Matali to surrender his dog on October 30 in Suiderhof’s Springbok Street, since according to him no black person can own a dog of that breed and thus racially discriminated against Matali because “he is a member of a certain race group.”
The incident made headlines in the local media and even Brettschneider himself came out in his own defence, saying he is not a racist, but that he was merely concerned about the dog walking on a leash with its black owner.
If found guilty Brettschneider could face a fine not exceeding N$80 000 or imprisonment of 10 years or both.
His case was postponed to January 17 next year and he was released on bail of N$1 000 by Magistrate Ingrid Unengu. Brettschneider was able to post bail.
By Roland Routh