Malema threatens civil arrests in Senekal
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has given police in the Free State an ultimatum to make more arrests in Senekal or face the wrath of the red berets.
Malema says the party will apply pressure on law enforcement to effect more arrests of those responsible for the chaos that erupted at the Senekal Magistrate’s Court last week.
Tensions ran high in the small Free State town when a large crowd gathered outside during the court for the appearance of two suspects linked to the murder of young farmer Brendin Horner.
Shots were fired, protesters stormed the court building, and a police van was burnt.
A 52-year suspect, André Pienaar, was arrested and has since been denied bail.
But the red berets want more people to be held accountable.
“Now we want to tell (Police Minister) Bheki Cele we are going to Senekal on Friday. If those people are not arrested, we are going to effect civil arrests. We will look for them, we will arrest them ourselves and hand them over to the police because police are scared of them,” Malema told his supporters outside the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
“Get those white people before we get to them.”
CIC @Julius_S_Malema shows how law enforcement officers hate black people.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 13, 2020
In Senekal, the police officers failed to restrain the white terrorists that burnt a police van. Yet, when black people gather for peaceful protests there you will find police presence. #HandsOffCIC pic.twitter.com/HKHP1KxY60
ALSO READ:
AfriForum slams 'anti-Afrikaner approach, witch hunt' in Senekal case
The 52-year-old Pienaar appeared at the Senekal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday with Magistrate Buti Mlangeni saying the court believes Pienaar's release could "undermine public peace and security". Pienaar was arrested last week for damaging state property after a police vehicle was torched by protestors outside of court.
He warned things could get ugly if the community doesn’t comply with their demands.
“They must arrest those people before Friday. We are not going to fight with anyone, we are going there peacefully but you push, we push, you shoot, we shoot double. We will not shoot anyone, we will not provoke anyone, we will not start anyone, just don’t push us, just don’t push our van, just don’t touch our court. You touch it, we touch you,” Malema warmed.
https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/court-denies-bail-senekal-businessman/
on Tuesday and will remain in custody until his next appearance on 20 November.