AfriForum to protest murders
03/02/2008 22:02  - (SA)  

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Mom shot in heart - for cell Skielik: Racism a key SA issue 'He used his whiteness'

Johannesburg - Civil rights initiative AfriForum is to protest outside the court where the three alleged killers of a Pretoria pre-school principal will appear on Wednesday.

"All murders have to be condemned as strongly as possible, whether it is the murder of Mrs Abraham and other white victims killed by blacks, or the murder of black residents of Skielik, killed by a white perpetrator," AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said on Sunday.

Rinda Abraham, principal of Kleutermaatjies pre-school, was shot and killed in her Pretoria home on Saturday, January 26.

Meanwhile, AfriForum said it would ask the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to investigate whether there was a link between statements made by speakers at the funerals of the Skielik victims and murders of whites.

'Racial agitators'

Three of the people shot and killed in the Skielik settlement near Swartruggens in the North West were buried last Saturday. A fourth victim was laid to rest in the Eastern Cape later.

Kriel said some of the speakers at the funeral sought to "incite racial hatred". He referred to their actions as the "reckless behaviour of racial agitators".

According to Kriel, ANC MP Patrick Chauke blamed whites during the first court appearance of the Skielik suspect, a local farmer's son. Protesters also shouted slogans such as "kill the boer, kill the farmer".

Posters bearing slogans such "Maak dood die wit man" (Kill the white man) were also displayed during the two court appearances.

During the Skielik funeral orator after orator attacked the farming community and whites and called for "action" against farmers, Kriel said.

'Young animal'

"AfriForum also expressed the hope that the HRC will realise the serious nature of this matter and that they will respond to AfriForum's request for an extensive investigation urgently."

Speaking at the funeral, Congress of SA Trade Unions secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said South Africans still had a long way to go to build a non-racist country.

He called the alleged killer a "young animal" and a "young brainwashed racist" with "no regard for human life".

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

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

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