Alleged killer of Geluksdal pupil ditches bail bid amid simmering racial tensions

Ameeruddin Dino Prince, who made his second appearance in the Tsakane Magistrates Court dressed in a white hoodie, is facing a charge of murder for allegedly killing 17-year-old Shawn Mphela.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that the matter was postponed to next month.

“The matter was postponed to 24 March to be transferred to the regional court, where he will be trialled because of the nature of the offence. [The accused] is facing one count of murder.”

Mphela’s father, other members of his family and friends attended court proceedings. A friend of the deceased visibly battled to contain his emotions, clenching his jaw and gripping tightly at a piece of cloth in his hands.

Outside court, the victim’s relatives who asked not to be named said they are left heartbroken by the realisation of the age gap between Prince and the slain pupil.

“We are hurt as a family when we see someone this old killing our young child. As a family our spirits are broken. The law must just play its part. The one who called this criminal to kill our child, where is he? He must also come to court and tell us why he didn’t fight his peers, if indeed there was a fight between the school children.”

It’s alleged on the afternoon of 2 February, after school, Mphela was part of a group of pupils who confronted another group they accused of spraying them with pepper spray during school hours.

It’s reported that one of the pupils then informed his relative, the accused, about the altercation. It’s alleged Prince then stabbed the teenager, who was declared dead at the scene.

BREWING RACIAL TENSIONS

Tensions outside the Tsakane Magistrate's Court died down as swiftly as they began after a group of pupils and community members demonstrating over the murder burned tyres along Modjadji Road.

Metro police vans rushed to extinguish the burning rubble and defuse the situation while a group of young men threw stones and taunted the officers.

Pan African Student Association (Paso) student leader Biyela Mbali said the postponement will lead to the disruption of learning at schools in the area because those angered by Mphela’s death have a vested interest.

“We are outraged. They can’t keep postponing the case, we want to learn at the same time. It means we are going to fight. If they are declaring war, we will give the war."

Biyela alleged authorities and officials from the Education Department ignored warnings of racial tensions between black and coloured pupils, which she claims fuelled the attack and subsequent backlash.

“The education department is failing us. We held a meeting weeks before Shawn died. This means that they were waiting for someone to die so they can take action. The district is failing us dismally, that’s why we decided to take matters into our own hands since the people who are in charge are failing us.”

Community members have warned of brewing tensions along racial lines between black and coloured residents since the killing, with allegations that Mphela’s friends and witnesses to his murder have been threatened by an alleged gang called “the G**vols”.

A parent, who says he is the father of one of the witnesses, pleaded with education officials to transfer their children to neighbouring schools.

“Our children are really really afraid to go to school. I am no longer [able to sleep]. The children are afraid of going to school and we are not going to take any chances to force them because we can see that is serious and they are going to get killed or something.”

The department previously said an independent law firm would be appointed to probe allegations of racial discrimination at the school.