White kids held for race murder
2003-03-09 14:57
Standerton - Six white schoolboys aged between 16 and 19 are being held in the Standerton police cells for allegedly bludgeoning a middle-aged black security guard to death last month.
A friend of Johnny van Zyl-Ntuli (46) found his battered body the next day.
The suspects, all pupils of Standerton High School, include three 17-year-olds, a 16-year-old, an 18-yeard-old and a 19-year old. They are being held together with a 22-year-old white adult.
City Press has learnt that the schoolboys had been partying on the night of the murder.
The boys will face charges of murder and/or aggravated assault.
Standerton prosecutor Salome Pretorius said the charge sheet had not yet been finalised and further charges could be added.
Van Zyl-Ntuli who was looking after a house under construction when he was attacked, apparently while asleep.
"There are no indications of provocation on the part of the deceased. No one knows what the motive was," Inspector Mark Nortje said.
Absolom Zwane and Michael Dlamini, friends of the deceased, told City Press they could not understand why anyone would want to kill Van Zyl-Ntuli.
"He was a good man who angered no one," said Zwane.
Many residents of Standerton drew a laager around the accused during the past week. City Press reporters were warned "not to publish the wrong story".
The mother of one of the under-aged boys said: "This is very difficult for us. Everybody is referring to 'the poor black', but what about us? Aren't we human too?"
A local priest, who wants to stay anonymous, is counselling the boys and their parents.
A member of the schools' parents committee, Pierre Schnetler, said he was saddened by the incident.
He added that the murder had nothing to do with the school.
"This case has to be tried first, but we as a community will have to take a hard look at our norms and values. This is an explosive situation that needs to be treated with much care," said Schnetler.
The mayor of Standerton, Juliet Radebe, expressed sadness over the killing.
"I hope this is an isolated incident. Things like these can divide the community and heighten racial tension," she said.