#TractorShooting – EFF furious when magistrate rules out racism
Court hears that security officer acted on crime and was not racially motivated
Scores of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters gathered outside the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court today (15 January) in an effort to witness the court proceedings of the security officer who allegedly fatally shot a farm worker on 6 January.
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The farm worker allegedly stole a tractor and took it for a ‘joy ride’ on the N14 from Muldersdrift to his place of residence in Tarlton.
Read the initial article here: [Not for sensitive viewers] Security officer fatally shoots tractor ‘thief’ in head
The owner of the tractor alerted his tracker company, which located the tractor and dispatched a vehicle to Tarlton. The security officer allegedly warned the farm worker several times to get off the tractor, but the man resisted and eventually was fatally shot in the head.
https://www.facebook.com/krugersdorpnews/videos/1933789673316765/
Community members at the Matshelapad informal settlement who witnessed the shooting immediately took to social media to voice their opinions on the alleged racially motivated crime. Soon after the shooting, the security officer was arrested. Stories about a white farm owner shooting his black farm worker for using the tractor to go buy himself lunch started flooding mainstream media.
Today, during the security officer’s appearance, another racially charged group gathered and was furious after the court heard that the security officer had acted in the correct manner and that the shooting was not an act of racism.
“The deceased had the right to be arrested and this is what should have happened. The security officer tried to stop him and he did not. The officer was given permission to shoot the tyres of the tractor to bring it to a standstill. The officer took the decision to kill. It was not an act of racism, he was acting on a crime,” the magistrate said. The accused was granted R10 000 bail, and he will appear in court again on 13 April.
https://www.facebook.com/krugersdorpnews/videos/1934031769959222/
Also Read: Media and police accused of defaming farmers after tractor shooting
Needless to say, the crowd was not happy and soon protest erupted.
Those who attended the court proceedings started shouting at police, resulting in their being arrested. Others were removed from the courtroom for their disruptive behaviour.
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