Rampage Starts Race Row


By CLARE NULLIS – 23 hours ago

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Protesters tried to force their way into the court hearing Thursday of a white teenager charged with a shooting rampage in a black settlement that left four people dead, including a mother and her infant.

The bloodshed on Jan. 14 in the Skielik settlement, 100 miles northwest of Johannesburg, has ignited racial tensions that remain close to the surface more than a decade after the end of South Africa's apartheid system.

Riot police were called in to control the dozens of black protesters who gathered outside the Swartruggens District Court, trying to push through the compound gates as 18-year-old Johan Nel made a brief appearance inside. He faces charges of murder and attempted murder.

The crowd waved signs saying " no bail, let him rot in jail," the South African Press Association reported. Police pushed the group was pushed to the side of the street.

Police are unclear on a motive, but Skielik's residents allege that Nel killed out of racial hatred. Leaders of the trade union movement and African National Congress have joined demonstrations in Skielik, which is part of an area known for its game reserves, biting rural poverty and deep divide between black and white.

"When I see a white skin I shiver and I ask, `Am I not a person like you, so do I not bleed?'" Mayor Wilhelminah Moleko told about 600 mourners at a memorial service shortly after Thursday's court session.

Nel, wearing camouflage and carrying a rifle, allegedly began firing on a group of children as he took a path through the settlement just outside the scenic village of Swartruggens.

Three-month-old Keditlhotse Moithitlhi died instantly and her 31-year-old mother, Anna Moithitlhi, who was carrying the baby on her back, died in hospital. A 10-year-old boy and 35-year-old man were the other dead. Six others were wounded.

Witnesses told local media that the silent shooter paused only to reload before eventually stopping and disappearing. His father handed him over to police.

Friends have described Nel as quiet and well-mannered, although deeply affected by an armed attack by black intruders on his home when he was a boy.

His lawyer Frikkie Pretorius said Thursday that he would ask for a psychiatric evaluation of his client, who appeared in court with his hands and wrists cuffed.

Nel's rampage rekindled memories of a 1988 shooting spree by white supremacist Barend Strydom, who killed eight black people and wounded 16 in the capital Pretoria.

Organizations representing white South Africans say that the killings have led to an outpouring of hate speech they fear will inflame tensions.

The Associated Press: Rampage Starts Race Row

Barend Strydom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Strydom was granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the first democratic elections in 1994.'

damn, thats just f'd up!!!!

"Johan Nel a 'young, brainwashed racist'

Racism was still a key issue in South Africa, political party representatives said as they addressed a gathering at Saturday's funeral of the murdered Skielik victims.

Congress of South African Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said alleged killer, Johan Nel (18) was a "young, brainwashed racist" with "no regard for human life".

Enoch Tshepo Motshelanoka (10), three-month-old Keditlhotse Elizabeth Moiphitlhi, and her 31-year-old mother, Anna, were gunned down -- allegedly by Nel -- almost two weeks ago.

The body of a fourth victim, Sivuyile Danani (35), was returned to his home in the Eastern Cape earlier this week for a separate funeral.

"We have learnt with shock that this young animal has a long history of mentality [sic] that suggested that he has no regard for black people's lives," said Vavi.

"We are told that he was only 15 when he started to demonstrate instincts that suggest that he equates black people's lives with those of baboons and birds."

Mourners at the funeral clapped and applauded Vavi's words. Vavi said racist people needed to be taught a lesson.

Black people were no longer sub-human people, he said.

”The killing of our people here in Skielik, Swartruggens, demonstrates another reality -- that we still have a long way to go to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa."

He said poverty ravaged communities like Skielik so badly that "our people [are] not even in a position to smell the promise of a better life for all!"

African National Congress member of Parliament Patrick Chauke said: "We are gathered here today because we still have to deal with racism."

Earlier he led the congregation in a hymn.

Chauke said that they had invited other political parties to the proceedings.

"We did inform them of the services and it's clear to me that the call was not heard."

Another speaker at the funeral said Nel was a "serpent".

"A serpent like this, a murderer like this, what do we do with a person like this?" the speaker asked.

Chauke then brought mourners to their feet by singing Umshini Wami and calling Jacob Zuma "our president".

National Union of Mineworkers' president Senzeni Zokwana said workers in the region faced hassles at work, were oppressed and were paid "peanuts".

"You are the unwanted; that's why farmers' children grow up to believe you are different.

"Another Nel must not find it easy to target our people," said Zokwana.

Family members of the victims were seated in front of the stage and wept as they listened to the speeches

In front of the family were three white marble-coloured coffins laden with wreaths.

The smallest coffin held the body of baby Keditlhotse Moiphitlhi. - Sapa"

(Source: Mail & Guardian, South Africa, 26 January 2008)

I think he needs to be rehabilitated. Lets not do anything rash. After all, you cant bring back the lives of th peopel who died

And whilst we are at it lets sit by the campfire and sing kum-by-ya



My actual opinion

Fry the mother****er. No trial !!!! I wonder what death penalty opponents have to say about this fine advert for humanity

You can tell there's something not right just by looking at his eyes. That vacant stare - the face is smiling but the eyes are blank.

It's as if the lights are on, but whoever was at home, left a long time ago. He must never be freed because once a person can shoot a 13-month-old baby with a rifle, he's gone way past the point of no return. The fact that he was wearing camoflage, shows it was premeditated and carefully thought out.

In fact, the only thing that's surprising is the low body count of 4 dead. Usually, when a motivated, well armed psychopath goes on the rampage, the body count is much higher e.g Virginia Tech - 32 dead.

Luckily, he didn't have access to automatic weapons in this case.