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By IOL Reporter 
1 hour ago
Johannesburg – EFF leader Julius Malema criticized the police response after a farmers’ protest turned violent outside Senekal Magistrates Court on Tuesday in support of the murdered family of farm administrator Brendin Horner.
However, the civil rights organization AfriForum, which had reached out to the Senekal community and called the attacks and murders of farms a form of terror, defended the farmers, saying in a statement: “The anger that people expressed here today is the ruthless consequence of a problem that just persists, coupled with the government’s indifferent attitude toward farm killings. “
Excitement rose when hundreds of farmers and residents had gathered in the Free State city to protest the murder of the 22-year-old farm manager, who had been brutally beaten and his body tied to a pole on a farm near Paul. Roux for the last time. Friday.
White farmers overturned a police vehicle and burned it in Senekal. He also fired 2 shots. Literally above the law.#NibasabaniAbelungu pic.twitter.com/5GFAVStyhW
– Hloni Bra (@HonourableHloni) October 6, 2020
Two shots were fired, court property destroyed and angry farmers overturned a police vehicle and set it on fire as suspects Sekwetje Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa were taken to their holding cells.
The police acted with circumspection and finally took control of the situation and called for reinforcements.
However, the police response was too tame for Malema’s taste.
Current situation in Senekal, and not a single rubber bullet was fired … White privilege at its finest! pic.twitter.com/a0sChHnY6I
– Gobetse 🇿🇦 (@G_Manchidi) October 6, 2020
” Whites don’t play; They are dealing with this clown government of their puppet @CyrilRamaphosa. Not a single shot from a rubber bullet. Can you imagine if they were black? ” Malema said on Twitter.
Police spokesman Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the matter was postponed until October 16 for a formal request for bail.
Makhele said that after court proceedings, a group of farmers demanded that the suspects be turned over to them. He said the group had damaged court property while on their way to the cells.
#Senekal from the air. #BrendinHorner pic.twitter.com/L4XmXRRmuh
– lydia van der merwe (@DerLydia) October 6, 2020
“This group fired two shots, but no one was injured,” said Makhele, adding that while the situation remains tense, the police had restored order.
A Twitter user had previously posted: “Like so many other farmers, I am heading to Senekal to show my pain and anger at the brutal murder of Brendin Horner in Paul Roux, Free State.
” Like so many other farmers, I hold @MYANC responsible. They created and maintain this poisonous environment. The world must know!
Ernst Roets (@ErnstRoets) of AfriForum summarizes the day of protest in #Senekal.#Assassinations#PlaasTerreur#BrendinHorner pic.twitter.com/la97VvsOyC
– Caracal conscious 🇿🇦 (@ConCaracal) October 6, 2020
Bertus van der Westhuizen, chairman of TLU SA in the Free State, said in a statement: “TLU SA hopes that the government, Police Minister Bheki Cele and criminals will take note of the growing feeling of resistance among South African farmers.
“TLU SA does not admit any form of vandalism. But the behavior of the supporters reflects the sentiment of the farmers at ground level.
“The irreconcilable attitude and statements of Police Minister Bheki Cele against farmers add to this sentiment. We are fed up and we will no longer be objective …
“The attitude of the government and the denial of the seriousness of the attacks on the farms are unacceptable. We hope that the government now realizes that the chaos that could ensue if there is no active reaction would be unmanageable on the part of the government.
“We want to contribute. We want to build and help build the country for the benefit of each resident. But not where farmers are like birds on a wire and everyone shoots at them. “
MESS
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