NATIONAL NEWS - Rightwingers and curious onlookers have gathered outside the High Court sitting in Ventersdorp on Tuesday, awaiting to hear the fate of Eugene Terre'Blanche's two murder-accused.
Members of the Afrikaaner Weerstandsbeweeging (AWB) stood opposite the court, clad in camouflage uniforms and sporting flags and banners in support of Terre'Blanche.
Some of the banners read: "AWB stood the test of time" and "Long live the AWB".
On another corner, members of the rightwing Gelofte Volk, an AWB splinter group, were also gathered in support of Terre'Blanche.
Leader Andre Visagie said he had mixed feelings about what to expect.
"We are not really very optimistic that justice will be done."
Police and police vans lined the streets surrounding the court. Heavily armed officers stopped family members and media from entering the court until the last possible minute.
Members of the community were also gathered outside the court. Everyone was warmly dressed to fight off the winter cold which has taken hold of the North West town.
Judgment on the two accused, Chris Mahlangu and a youth, was expected to start at 9am.
The pair are charged with beating Terre'Blanche to death in his farmhouse outside Ventersdorp, in North West, on April 3, 2010.
Both have pleaded not guilty to murder, housebreaking, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Mahlangu has claimed he acted in self-defence. The teenager has denied involvement in the crime.
Mahlangu and the youth declined to testify and, in April, the trial was postponed for judgment.
"It is probably going to be a long judgment. So prepare yourselves for a long judgment," Judge John Horn told the State and the defence.
The youth turned 18 shortly after the proceedings were postponed.
On Monday, North West police said it was prepared for large crowds which might gather outside the court.
"Based on previous confrontations between the two groups outside the court police are expecting even worse situations than the previous ones and are up to the task," Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.
Source : Sapa
|