Seeds can cost you your life
saying he hoped to give them a clear explanation of his reasons for granting bail.
The state’s case hinges on the account of a witness who claims to of shacks in the Scotland section are to blame for the recent racial tensions.
“I think that [farmers being racist] is an unfair allegation against us. We have huge respect in this town, as farmers,” Pieter said.
“For the past six months, there have been huge losses on that farm because of the neighbouring squatter camp. The fence was even stolen. We’ve reported it to police on numerous occasions and people still walk through the farm to get to the township. Nothing has been done and so we’ve stepped up security there.”
On Monday, farmers emerged from their homes brandishing firearms when Schutte and Doorewaard appeared in court for their bail application, and again after three homes were torched by angry protesters after the magistrate handed down his ruling.
Less than 30 minutes after the pair was granted bail, fires were lit at busy intersections and the home of Henk and Karen Keyser was burned to the ground in a targeted arson attack.
The town was on a knife-edge and police became the last line of defence between angry youngsters and the maize and sunflower crops on Karsten’s farm.
Clad in full riot gear, firing rubber bullets and stun grenades, public order police officers stationed themselves along the perimeter of the sunflower field where Matlhomola had died, trying to keep a growing crowd of protesters off the farm.
The police fired rubber bullets and advanced towards a railway line, the only barrier between the township houses and shacks and the farm. As some of the protesters retreated, others grabbed corrugated iron sheets and defended themselves against the bullets while hurling rocks at the police and moving towards the sunflower field.
In a confrontation that lasted from 2pm until sundown, the police managed to prevent a possible attack on Karsten’s home and his crops.
Asked to explain their anger, many of the protesting residents cited the “low” bail amount of R5 000, saying that Doorewaard and Schutte had been let off lightly “because they are white”.