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Andre Pienaar increased his offer last week after the Senekal Magistrates Court denied him bail.
FILE: A police vehicle set on fire by angry farmers in front of Senekal Magistrates Court on October 6, 2020. Image: @ crimeairnetwork / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – The man accused of public violence during this month’s protests by farmers in the Free State on Monday morning was released on bail in the Free State High Court.
Andre Pienaar increased his offer last week after the Senekal Magistrates Court denied him bail.
Pienaar is charged with firing shots in the Senekal Court of First Instance, setting fire to a police van and inciting a group of farmers to commit acts of violence.
A second suspect who was arrested for his alleged involvement in property damage in the Free State city of Senekal is expected to appear in court Monday.
Police confirmed late Friday that a 33-year-old man was charged with attempted murder, public violence, arson and intentional damage to property.
A group of farmers damaged state property and set fire to a police van last week while demanding that authorities hand over the two suspects arrested for the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner in Paul Roux earlier. of this month. Pienaar, 51, was among the protesters who set fire to a police van and parts of the local court.
Horner’s body was found hanging from a pole earlier this month on a farm in Paul Roux, where he worked. Sekola Matlaletsa and Sekwetje Mahlamba applied for bail last week after being charged with Horner’s murder.
Pienaar’s lawyers argued last week that, as a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he should take specific medications that needed to be monitored regularly. They also said that her medication would have to constantly adapt to ensure that her mental state remained stable.
But Magistrate Buti Mlangeni said Pienaar’s medical condition, which appeared to be unpredictable, indicated that no bail conditions would prevent him from committing other crimes that could disrupt public order.
He also pointed out how Pienaar’s lawyers said they could seek to have him referred to a psychiatric institution for a mental evaluation, saying this indicated that Pienaar could not be controlled in any way.
Pienaar’s lawyers said the court was wrong to say that it is not in the interest of justice to release their client and as a result they petitioned the Bloemfontein High Court.
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