Tensions are palpable and one move from either of the protesting groups could see a racially driven brawl break out in Senekal, Free State.
Senekal becomes the stage for possible racial brawl
Videos and images have surfaced on social media, showing thousands of protesters from different organisations gathered outside the Senekal Magistrate’s Court ahead of the appearance of two suspects who are charged with the brutal murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner.
Last week, the South African police came under fire for failing to control the chaos that broke out after hundreds of angry farmers stormed into the court and attempted to remove the two suspects from their holding cells.
Gunshots were fired inside the premises and the suspects were assaulted. Court property was damaged and a police van was tilted to the side and torched.
Andre Pienaar, a construction business owner is, thus far, the only rioter who has been charged with public violence and attempted murder for his involvement in allegedly inciting the chaos.
EFF leader Julius Malema has been critical of the police’s handling of the angry farmers’ riots. In response, the party’s commander-in-chief ordered his battalion to gather in numbers outside the court to ‘defend law and order’.
Heavy police presence to ensure peace outside court
On Friday, a large contingent of Red Berets was dropped off in numbers in the small Free State town by a number of buses.
Vehicles carrying the protesters from Malema’s political party and other groups lobbying for the awareness of farm murders were searched by a task force assembled by Police Minister Bheki Cele.
The groups of protesters have been segregated in designated areas around the court, a measure taken by the police to limit the possibility of violence breaking out.
Watch: EFF members stand-off with angry farmers
At the time of publishing this article, we had already seen close encounters between the groups, with the EFF protesters provoking the angry farmers to use the weapons many of them are carrying.
Here are some of the videos we have sourced online:
