Racial Tensions: Residents of Senekal Protest Over The Murder of a White Farm Manager

Murder
Murder

The death of Brendin Horner, a 21-year-old farm manager, sparked mixed reactions among the residents of Senekal, a small town in S. Africa. The news went round that anonymous men murdered the man. However, police arrested two men of color, claiming they were persons of interest in the murder. This incident ignited festering tensions among black activists and white farmers.

The deceased is the 42nd farm murder victim this year. It is saddening as the government hasn’t been prioritizing such cases. The whites allege that criminals and black communities are preying on them. Therefore, this murder has proven to be the perfect storm for farmers who feel unsafe, unheard, and gullible in south Africa.

The Murder Incident

On October 22nd, police found Horner’s body lying lifeless on the DeRots farm after his girlfriend reported missing. They found the corpse hanging from a pole with a rope around his neck. The police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi stated that the body especially, the head and face sustained numerous injuries. Brendin’s death was an atrocious and barbaric act. Next to his body was a necklace with his name engraved on it. Judging from that, the lad had fought relentlessly before he succumbed.

The following day, the policemen arrested two suspects, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba and Sekola Piet. Their clothes and shoes were stained in blood.

Citizens’ Reactions

Murder is a crime against humanity and no such offender should walk scot-free. News on Horner’s death was spreading like wildfire. Social media went ablaze as agricultural groups, Front Plus, and Human activists criticized the act. They said that genocide has become a new form of terrorism in the country; hence the government needed to step up.

Gily Scheeper, Horner’s employer, told the media that it was quite disheartening the young man had to pay with his life to help solve the problem. Since Horner’s death, Senekal has been in the spotlight for its poor governance and numerous crimes. Authorities are conducting investigations on Brendin’s case and the whites are hoping for a safe town.

Scheeper has also extended effort in the investigations by hiring a private investigator. He says the police in the country is too corrupt to handle the case.

As the court proceedings for the case began, large scale protestors demonstrated outside the South African court. The white farmers demanded justice sparking racial tensions. Meanwhile, the black activists gathered under the scorching sun also in protest.

Since it was a chaotic Friday of chief police had deployed dozens of officers dressed in bulletproof jazzy and armed with assault rifles. In an attempt to prevent further confrontations, the policemen separated the two groups with a barbed-wire fence.

Farmers in Senekal say that although stock theft crime is common in the area, murders are rare. Though scared, the residents are glad the genocide got the attention of many. Since the court had no motive to convict the suspects, they appealed for bail.

Investigating police officer Gerhard Peter Myburgh told the court that the two should be set free on bail. He says one of them is an ex-convict whom they’ve charged 16 times. Owing to the nature of the unrest this crime has ignited, the suspects are also wanted, persons. As such, it’s safe for them to remain in police custody.

MORE:

TRENDING

Related Posts