'Definitely it was a racial attack'
2008-01-17 11:16
Swartruggens - Families of the victims of this week's shootings at the Skielik informal settlement in the North West said they felt racism had been perpetuated at the Swartruggens Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Relatives, residents and ANC parliamentary members spoke to media outside the court after Johan Nel appeared briefly for the murder of three people in the settlement.
Nel allegedly entered the Skielik settlement on Monday and allegedly shot dead a 30-year-old man, a 10-year-old boy and a three-month-old baby.
"The most horrific thing that has happened is that [while] we are fighting racism throughout, white residents... white South Africans, didn't even come here to show their solidarity," said ANC MP and Swartruggens resident Patrick Chauke.
Not the first time
The aunt of 10-year-old Tshepo Motsholanoka, who was shot dead on Monday, said she was "so unhappy", as the proceedings in court took place only in Afrikaans.
"They were meant to speak in two languages so the people at court could understand," said Nkele Motsholanoka.
Motsholanoka said she felt Nel should go to jail for the rest of his life.
Chauke said Members of Parliament would seek an urgent meeting with the court prosecutor on Thursday to ask why an interpreter was not present to translate for the families.
Earlier, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) provincial secretary general Solly Pheto said the union federation stood by its earlier statement that the attack was racially motivated.
"Tell us why this young boy decided to kill only black people. Nobody has ever answered that question. It is a racial issue."
Pheto said it was not the first time Nel had been implicated in racial attacks.
Chairperson of Parliament's budget committee, Louisa Mabe, said she was worried about the incident and how the community had been affected.
"Definitely it was a racial attack. If it is not racially motivated how is it possible to go straight to an area where black people are living and allegedly, while shooting, say 'kaffir, kaffir, kaffir'," said Mabe.
She said the amount of ammunition Nel allegedly had in his car as he drove to the settlement showed that he was "determined to kill as many people as possible".
- SAPA