Cape Town - A farmer accused of assaulting University of Stellenbosch academic Professor Anton van Niekerk was on Wednesday released on R5 000 bail by the local magistrate's court.
Abel Albertus Malan, 47, is the grandson of Danie Malan, a prominent business executive involved with insurer Sanlam.
Malan, from Mbombela, allegedly confronted the professor in his office on July 14 about a letter that appeared in Die Burger newspaper on July 5.
In the letter, which Malan found offensive, the professor wrote that apartheid could never be condoned. In the heat of the confrontation, Malan allegedly toppled the professor's desk onto him.
Malan faces two charges - intimidation for allegedly threatening the professor with assault, as well as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Malan appeared briefly before magistrate Anita Potgieter, who ordered him to surrender his passport to the police and to be out of Stellenbosch by 20:00 on Wednesday as the conditions of bail.
Other conditions were that he return to court on August 25, when the case would be transferred to the Stellenbosch Regional Court.
Malan was warned not to have any contact, direct or indirect, with Van Niekerk.
He has to inform the investigating officer of any change of address, and may not enter the Stellenbosch magisterial district without permission, except to attend court proceedings.
A final condition was that he report to the Mbombela police every Friday between 06:00 and 20:00.
Malan was warned that he would be taken back into custody, and his bail revoked, if he breached any of his bail conditions.
