Four Afrikaans activists on trial for “incitement to public violence” were released on bail today in Groblersdal, South Africa, while the farmer and son originally accused of killing a dog on a violent farm worker were not granted bail (the portal reported). .
YouTuber Willem Bitzer (27 years old), better Co-director Devon Hofmeyr (29), son of South African country music star Steve Hoemeyer, fellow activist Tiwi Wessels (32) and other better Co-director Francois van der Merwe was released on bail on Monday.
The court released them on bail of 5,000 rand each (about $260). The four embraced each other in court after the verdict and prayed together in a circle. A bail hearing was scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to a power outage. Friday's session was postponed again.
In the small farming community of Groblersdal, the former Northern Transvaal province, farmer Piet Groenewald (63) and his stepson Stefan Greif (23) are on trial for the killing of a black farm worker's dog on 17 January. The farmhand was drunk and destructive and attacked them with a panga (machete) and an ax handle. The use of dogs against black people is a culturally charged act in post-apartheid South Africa.
Grünewald and his stepson were refused bail in the Groblersdal District Court on Monday 12 February and remain in prison.
the Sweet and bitter Al-Shabaab rallied in support of Groenewald and Greif on January 24 outside the courthouse. Hundreds of ANC and EFF supporters also demonstrated outside the courthouse, demanding that white farmers be put on trial.
However, only white protesters were charged with “incitement to public violence” as a crime of protest. On Monday, February 12, three of the defendants reported to police in an orderly manner with their suitcases beside them: YouTuber Willem Pitzer, and Devon Hofmeyr, the son of top country singer Steve Hofmeyr and fellow activist Mythis “Tiwi” Wessels. . The fourth accused, Dries Olivier, submitted a sick note. Bittereinders co-founder Francois van der Merwe was arrested on February 8.
Local residents complained of an “apparent double standard” as hundreds of supporters of the ANC and the far-left Revolutionary Front were not arrested for the protest.
In August 2023, radical Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema sparked protests around the world by singing the “struggle song” “Kill the Boers” in front of a crowd of 90,000 people at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The rally was followed by several horrific attacks on farms, including a report of the attackers singing the song “Kill the Boers” (the portal reported). However, Malema was not held responsible for “incitement to public violence.”
Country music star Steve Hofmeyr visited his son, Devon, who is in police custody on Tuesday, February 13.
“It's the unforgiving plain a father finds himself in when his son is unjustly imprisoned. I can't describe it to you. The hardest thing is not being able to show up. There are three good reasons why I won't show up, reasons that make sense to Steve Hofmeier, but make no sense at all to the father. That is why I passed by silently to visit my son.”
Hofmeier expressed his thanks to Freedom Front Plus leader Dr. Peter Groenewald, who spoke in Parliament about the events that took place in Groblersdal.
“South Africa is a country governed by the rule of law and every citizen should be equal before the law. But in the court case in Groblersdal where two people were charged with assault, the Ministers of Police, Bheki Cele, and Justice, Ronald Lamola, will attend the bail application for the accused themselves. Don't they have work to do?” “Why are they going there? They're going there because they have a political motive, and that motive is to intimidate the president. They've been denied bail.”
Groenewald noted that he had filed two complaints against EFF leader Julius Malema regarding his direct incitement to kill whites. “Why wasn't he arrested too? Let him also apply for bail. You are working under your leadership to create inequality. So these men went and gave themselves up. They are entitled to bail.”
“Political parties, such as the ANC and the EFF, are trying to exploit and escalate the tense situation prevailing in Groblersdal in the run-up to the 2024 elections in order to extract cheap political gains from it. There is “An undeniable attempt to destabilize society.”
Controversially, only protesters supporting the accused are currently being prosecuted, however, according to Hemmens, while ANC and FF protesters are escaping prosecution.
“Those who break the law, incite violence and lawlessness and sow chaos in society must be constantly prosecuted. Double standards are indefensible and only increase tension,” Hemmens said.
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