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Andre Pienaar appears at the Senekal Magistrates Court.
PHOTO: Alex Mitchley, News24
- Andre Pienaar and SJ Fourie were arrested after the chaos at Senekal Magistrates Court.
- Both men have been charged with attempted murder, public violence and incitement to violence.
- The matter was postponed to March 2021.
The case against André Pienaar, accused of inciting violence that allegedly caused a crowd of protesters to break into Senekal Magistrates Court on October 6, was postponed until 2021 for a private psychiatric evaluation.
During the riot, a police vehicle was overturned and allegedly set on fire. The protesters are also alleged to have attempted to set the cells on fire.
Two shots were also fired as protesters entered the court buildings, but there is no evidence to show who fired the shots.
Chaos ensued in the small Free State town following the first appearance of Sekwetje Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa, charged with the murder of local farm manager Brendin Horner, whose body was found on a farm in Paul Roux on October 2. .
Pienaar and his co-defendant, SJ Fourie, appeared briefly in the same court on Friday morning.
The matter was postponed until March 1, 2021 to allow further investigation by the state, as well as to allow Pienaar to be evaluated by private psychiatrists.
Bipolar disorder
During Pienaar’s bail request last month, his attorney indicated that Pienaar suffered from bipolar disorder. He owns a construction company in Senekal.
The State alleges that Pienaar incited violence and that he, Fourie and others broke into court buildings to seize the defendants and, in the process, damaged court property and mistreated court personnel.
Both Pienaar and Fourie, who have been charged with incitement to violence, public violence and attempted murder, told the court that they intend to plead not guilty to the charges.
READ | Senekal riots: Second defendant released on bail, claims he was there to tow a damaged police vehicle
In his first court appearance, Fourie, who owns a towing service in the small town, told the court that he was not involved in the chaos, but was there to tow the burned police vehicle.
Fourie was granted bail of 15,000 rand, while Pienaar, who was initially denied bail, was released on bail for the same amount, after successfully appealing the judgment in State High Court. Free in Bloemfontein.
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