AWB to appoint new leader 'soon'

2010-04-06 10:02

Ventersdorp - A new leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbewging (AWB) would be appointed soon following the murder of Eugene Terre'Blanche over the weekend, the organisation said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Pieter Steyn said once a new leader was appointed, the organisation would decide on its future.

He was speaking outside the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court where two farm workers would appear for allegedly killing the right wing leader.

Call for calm

Steyn called for calm, saying: "There is nothing to fear, we are sad and heartbroken but there will be no revenge.

"Today's gathering is of solidarity, there will be no throwing of stones, no burning the library. After this we are going home."

Around 250 people had gathered outside the court by 08:30 on what started out as a rainy day.

Many people carried placards and waved the AWB and old South African flags.

Tension flared during a heated exchange between a Young Communist League member and a member of an organisation called Resistance against Communism (RAC).

Confrontation

The YCL's Themba Mbatha told Don Maltitz from RAC that racist farmers are the enemy.

"Those who abuse farm workers are the enemy, those who call us kaffirs are the enemy," he said.

Maltitz hit back saying farmers were being targeted and ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was the one creating racial hatred.

The confrontation was heated until Steyn intervened.

One person handed out AWB badges outside court and a human barricade was set up by police officers preventing the crowd and the media from entering the court house.

Only a few family members were allowed in.

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- SAPA