Two in court for racial assault
2008-05-05 18:06
Swartruggens - A father and son, arrested for the assault of two men, appeared briefly in the Swartruggens District Court on Monday.
Chris Smit, 40, and his son Chris jr, 20, were arrested on Saturday and charged with assaulting Samuel Ramurola, of Doornkop farm, and James Mpete on Friday.
Both men are in their late 50s.
The case was postponed to May 28 for further investigation and the Smits were each granted bail of R2 000.
The brief appearance comes against a racially charged background in the Swartruggens district.
In January a white youth, Johan Nel, appeared in court charged with the shooting deaths of four people - including a three-month-old baby - in the Skierlik informal settlement. Six other people were injured.
Nel, 18, is due to appear again on July 14. His court appearances have drawn emotional and angry crowds who have called for Nel to be handed over to them.
In February, reports surfaced of a 16-year-old boy, Rapula Matshane, being bundled into a freezer after being accused of stealing a chocolate slab from a local supermarket.
Locals were adamant the assaults on Mpete and Ramurola, who had his arm broken, were racially motivated.
- SAPA