Terre'Blanche accused leaves court

One of the two people accused of murdering AWB leader Eugene Terre Blanche has been led out of court amidst cheers and ululation.

By Sapa and Sipho Masondo




One of the two people accused of murdering AWB leader Eugene Terre Blanche was led out of court amidst cheers and ululation shortly after lunchtime.



Police led one of the accused, with a jacket fixed firmly over his head blocking his face from view, out of the court and into a waiting Nyala.



The Nyala left the court in convoy with a number of police vehicles, sirens blaring.



The accused was wearing grey pants and a white belt.



As the vehicle drove off, the crowd cheered and ululated and shouted.



"Viva, Viva," they said, jumping and clenching their fists as the van drove off.



"They are our heroes - they did us proud," said Simon Molefe while jumping with joy.



Reporters were waiting to be briefed on the court proceedings, which were to take place in camera, due to the age of one of the accused.



National Director of Public Prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, arrived at the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court where two farm workers accused of killing AWB leader Eugene Terre Blanche appeared this morning.



The two farm workers, aged 15 and 28, accused of killing AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche had not yet been charged by lunchtime, Simelane said.



Speaking to the media outside the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court, Simelane said the prosecuting authority had met representatives from the community, the AWB and the community policing forum to explain how court proceedings would unfold.



"On April 1st this year, the Child Justice Act was implemented which had different procedures for children.



"We wanted to make sure that everyone understands what had to be done.



"We then had a formal court appearance where the provision of the act was explained to the legal representatives," he said.



Simelane explained that proceedings would be held in camera as one of the accused was a minor.



"Both have to appear together and we can't separate them, that's why it is being held in camera."



The accused had not appeared in court by 12.45pm and remained in holding cells. They would appear shortly.



"They have not been charged yet but when the formal part of the case resumes...it will be decided whether the accused will apply for bail," he said.



The act facilitates diverting children away from the mainstream criminal justice system, providing for offenders under 18 years who commit an offence to be dealt with differently to the regular criminal justice procedures or laws.



Police had earlier said the 15-year-old accused had not been released into his parents' custody for his own safety.



Tensions were running high outside the court where this morning ahead of the hearing.



The crowd were upset when it was announced that the hearing would be held in camera behind closed doors - as one of the accused is a minor.



An artificial boundary divided the AWB farmers from members of the local black community. The AWB crowd began singing apartheid anthem Die Stem, while the Black crowd sang the new South African National Anthem.



Police had to intervene when insults were allegedly hurled by a woman from the AWB camp, which sparked a tense face-off between the two groups, which the police seem to have got under control.



Four old South African flags and about 20 Vierkleur were held up during the singing.



Tempers also flared when a member of the SACP Youth League, Shoes Nsibamde, wearing a shirt emblazened with the emblem 'do it for Chris Hani' attempted to give a TV interview outside the court room. He was immediately surrounded by men wearing old SA flags as well as the old Vierkleur flag.



When asked about farm murders the men jeered and interrupted the interview saying Nsibande had no answers and could only sing songs about murder.



Pieter Steyn, the AWB spokesperson, said the gathering was just to show solidarity with Terre Blanche's family.



"After the court proceedings we will disperse, we are not going to throw stones, and we're not going to burn down the library."



The situation remains tense at this stage.



Police have cordoned off the sides of the court with barbed wire and formed a line of officers, about 50 strong, in front of the court.



A police helicopter is also circling the area.