Senekal court shooting: farmers and police blame each other

Tense scenes off the pitch.

• Police and farmers blamed each other for two shots that were fired at Senekal Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
• An estimated 100 people stormed the court where two men were appearing for the murder of 22-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner.
• A witness told News24 that the police were responsible for the shooting.

It is unclear who was responsible for the firing of two shots in Senekal magistrates court on Tuesday, and both farmers and police blame each other.

An estimated 100 people stormed Senekal Magistrates Court following the arraignment of Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32, and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, charged with the murder of 22-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner.

During the altercation, shots were fired, court assets were damaged and a police vehicle overturned and set fire.

In a statement shortly after the incident, Free State Police said: “This group fired two shots, but no one was injured.”

However, Boere Droogtehulp founder Chris Van Beljon, who was at the scene, said police were definitely responsible for the shooting.

“No, it was definitely the police. No farmer shot anything, I can assure you,” Van Beljon told News24 in Afrikaans.

Two eyewitnesses, who wanted to remain anonymous, also said that the police were responsible for the shooting.

In a video that was widely circulated on social media, a group of farmers can be seen making their way through a hallway in the court building and then two shots are heard.

“Skiet terug (Shoot back); Skiet terug (Shoot back)”, the farmers can be heard yelling at each other, before walking down the hall.

Ndileka Cola, spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID), told News24 that the directorate would decide whether to investigate a case of police misconduct in this regard.