Mob lays into man at court
TENSIONS ran high yesterday outside the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga where two white men were appearing for allegedly assaulting a black man and forcing him into a coffin.
An unknown man was severely beaten by a mob while the accused pair, Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen, were applying for bail after they were arrested for allegedly assaulting Victor Rethabile Mlotshwa and shoving him into a coffin.
A scuffle broke out outside the court about 20 minutes after proceedings were adjourned for lunch.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fracas but some people in the crowd said the victim was beaten after he threatened to stab some members of the ANC with a knife.
The mob beat the man until he fell to the ground and then trampled on him and continued beating him with their fists.
Others put a road signboard on him and repeatedly jumped on him while he lay on the ground.
The man later stood up and staggered through the crowd with his T-shirt pulled up and covering his face. He sustained a wound at the back of the head but was saved by the police from further attack and led away.
Police officers at the scene declined to comment and referred enquiries to the provincial spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi.
He could not be reached for comment.
The bail hearing has been postponed to December 8. – ANA