Confessed farm attacker seeks safety behind bars
"The South African Police Service has identified incidents of crime and violence on farms and small holdings as an emerging priority in the current 2016/2017 financial year as part of our integrated approach towards eradicating crime and criminality in this country."
FROM the grim faces in the courtroom’s public gallery on Tuesday morning, it was clear that the scumbag who confessed to being involved in the Van Rooyen killing was safer behind bars.
Seeming to agree, he, himself, chose to withdraw his bail application, opting to remain securely out of the public’s reach.
An air of despondency envelopes the courtroom where fellow farmers and friends of the late Billy Van Rooyen have gathered in solidarity.
In the witness stand of the packed courtroom, before the magistrate stands a 32-year-old taxi driver, charged with the murder of Billy Van Rooyen and Ronnie Lombard on April 19 at their farm in the Swart Umfolozi area.
The accused, who is believed to be one of nine who massacred the Van Rooyen home on that fateful night, mumbles that he has forgotten to put something in his confession to his attorney as the air grows heavy with tension. His attorney vocalises to the court that the accused wishes to amend his original confession.
Presiding Magistrate, Anna Lentink, explains to the accused that, as he has already finalised his first confession, he will now be required to submit a second confession. Having already confessed to his involvement in the murder of the two slain farmers prior to the hearing, he stands with his head held high, an expressionless face before the magistrate as he withdraws his bail application.
The case is postponed to June 6 and the accused is remanded back into custody, pending further investigation and the possibility of the addition of other suspects.
In a media statement released by the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane on the meeting with AfriForum regarding incidents of violence on farms and small holdings, it was stated, “The South African Police Service has identified incidents of crime and violence on farms and small holdings as an emerging priority in the current 2016/2017 financial year as part of our integrated approach towards eradicating crime and criminality in this country.”
“It is for that reason that we have resolved to properly define these incidents as acts of violence against persons residing on, working on or visiting farms and small holdings; whether with intent to murder, rape, rob or inflict bodily harm. These include farm owners, farm workers and all other citizens of this country, irrespective of race, colour, creed, religion or sex.
In addition to that, all acts of violence against the infrastructure and property in rural communities aimed at disrupting legal farming activities as a commercial concern are also included.
Therefore, the South African Police Service has committed to collaborative efforts with various stakeholders such as AfriForum as well as a number of organised agricultural unions around the country.”
According to the statement, the South African Police Service has identified KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo and Gauteng as hotspot provinces.
“The South African Police Service remains committed to ensuring that we continue to build these collaborative efforts with civil society to achieve a crime free, safe South Africa.”
Captain Attie Engelbrecht, the investigating officer, requests that the community continue to support the police in their investigation and urges that anyone who has information regarding this case contact him on 082 411 6769.
