Racial tension in Krugersdorp after farm shooting

‘We’re shocked and sad about what happened’

A FARMER who allegedly shot dead a worker, Masotsha Aron Mutavhatsindi, 42, in full view of community members on Saturday has caused racial tension in Krugersdorp, North West.

Brandishing a gun, Mutavhatsindi’s alleged killer, 46-year-old Petrus Durant, threatened community members not to come close to his body, which was slouched against the steering wheel of a tractor, until police arrived.

Details surrounding 42-year-old Mutavhatsindi’s death emerged after Durant’s brief appearance in court yesterday.

Residents told the Cape Times’s sister paper The Star they saw vehicles belonging to a security company surrounding the tractor Mutavhatsindi was driving.

It was believed Mutavhatsindi had been accused by his employer of stealing the tractor from his workplace during working hours.

Residents protested when police arrived on the scene. Some suffered wounds from rubber bullets.

Police arrested Durant and charged him with murder.

Durant learnt in court yesterday that his formal bail application will be heard only on Monday next week.

State prosecutor Janha Downs told the court she intended to oppose the bail application. Her request to keep Durant in police custody was granted.

It emerged that Durant has been charged before for an assault in Rustenburg.

He told the court yesterday he was never prosecuted over that case. It was now a civil matter, he said.

Patrick Lipudi, mayor of Mogale City, lamented that racism still dogged society “We’re quite shocked and very sad about what has happened.”