Louis Liebenberg defends himself during his bail application after his legal representative withdrew from the case. Picture: Gallo Images/Deaan Vivier Infamous diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg, who has strong ties to the uMkhonto weSizwe party, will have to wait until next year to be admitted to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria West for evaluation, after his case was postponed yet again in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Liebenberg, usually loud and defiant, appeared briefly and quietly when his case was moved to 22 January.
Gone were the slogans, media briefings and courtroom clashes; instead, he stood silently in the dock. Liebenberg has made multiple appearances this year – in February, April, July, August, November and December – but has not secured bail. He remains 51st on the waiting list for evaluation after clashing with the magistrate in August.
This marks the second Christmas behind bars for Liebenberg and his wife, Desiree, arrested at the Benoni Country Club in October 2024. In November, the couple appeared alongside Magdelena Petronella Kleynhans, Helena Dorothea Amy Schulenburg, Adriaan Dewald Strydom, Christelle Badenhorst, Nicolize van Heerden and Walter Niendinger, facing charges linked to more than R4 billion in fraud. Johannes Petrus Badenhorst was absent.
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The group faces 42 counts of fraud, five counts of racketeering, six counts of money laundering and contraventions of the Companies Act. They are due back in court on 13 February, with pretrial dates set for October and November. Liebenberg has previously addressed the media, lamenting his lack of contact with Desiree.
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