Home » Calls for Calm as Coligny Citizens Arming Themselves. Attacked Photographer Will Not Press Charges

Calls for Calm as Coligny Citizens Arming Themselves. Attacked Photographer Will Not Press Charges

CAPE TOWN – The photographer who was attacked by a home owner yesterday in Coligny in the North West, says he will not press charges, insinuating that it’s part of the job. Tension has been running high in Coligny since the alleged murder of a teenager two weeks ago, and the release on bail yesterday […]

By SAPeople
09-05-17 12:38
in Eish!

CAPE TOWN – The photographer who was attacked by a home owner yesterday in Coligny in the North West, says he will not press charges, insinuating that it’s part of the job. Tension has been running high in Coligny since the alleged murder of a teenager two weeks ago, and the release on bail yesterday of the two suspects… and on Tuesday the Democratic Alliance called for calm as reports come that citizens are arming themselves.

Journalist Mujahid Safodien, who was on the scene yesterday when a house was torched by angry protestors, told local media – after the home owner wrestled him to the ground, causing cuts to his face and damaging his camera equipment – that: “This happened to me in the 1980s, in the 1990s. It happens all the time.”

He said the owner of the house had accused the journalists of knowing about plans to burn down his house. Protestors had stormed to the two suspects’ homes on Monday, following the court granting each a R5,000 bail.

Two houses were reportedly torched yesterday, after the two farm workers – Pieter Doorewaard and Phillip Schutte – were released. They had been arrested on 25 April (after handing themselves in), accused of killing Matlhomola (Faki) Mosweu (17).

Schutte and Doorewaard claim that they had caught Mosweu stealing sunflowers from the farm they work on. They allege that they put him in the back of a bakkie and were driving to town to hand him over to police, when he jumped out of the moving vehicle 3km away from the station, sustaining neck injuries.

However according to an eyewitness account, Mosweu did not jump – he was allegedly thrown out of the back of the bakkie.

In making his decision to release the men on bail, the magistrate noted that SA Police evidence showed the accused men had handed over suspected thieves several times before, and had never assaulted them.

On Tuesday, the EFF called on the state to appeal the decision. EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: “The law is there to guard and protect all of us.”

He pointed out that the protests over the past two weeks have “escalated to the torching of the farmer’s house and two other houses in the area” since “cheap” bail was granted yesterday; and said “the violence in Coligny must be put squarely at the feet of our courts who fail to uphold justice”.

On Tuesday, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane said the DA “is deeply concerned by reports of groups of citizens arming themselves in Coligny. Vigilantism, no matter how angry and emotional people may be, is never an appropriate response in our Constitutional Democracy.”

Maimane called upon the community to let the legal system run its course.

“The loss of a young life under unexplained circumstances is never easy and will always elicit strong emotions. That said, the destruction of property, racism and physical attacks are not justice.”

Police have been deployed to the area. Acting National Police Commissioner, General Khomotso Phahlane, told Maimane this morning that there is a “separate criminal element that has taken advantage of the situation in Coligny”.

Maimane said: “This mobilization and counter mobilization of private citizens must stop. It is irresponsible and dangerous for residents of Coligny to attempt to arm themselves and encourage others to join them with their weapons.

“With just one spark, this course of action could lead to a major violent incident, which no democratic citizen wants to see.

“The DA strongly condemns those on social media and in the community who use racism to register their anger. We cannot allow our humanity to be stripped in the pursuit of real justice.”

He said it is “reckless” of some political leaders and community leaders to fuel tensions.

“As political leaders in a constitutional democracy, it is incumbent on us to call for calm and to ask all members of the Coligny community to come together and reject any idea of violent reprisal. This is not how we settle disputes and seek real justice.”

So far there has been no word from the Presidency.