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White farmers jailed for murder of black teen in S.Africa
MAFIKENG, South Africa, March 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A South African court on
Wednesday handed jail terms of 23 and 18 years to two white farmers who
murdered a black teenager suspected of stealing sunflowers in a remote
farming community.
Pieter Doorewaard, 28, and Philip Schutte, 35, were found to have killed
15-year-old Matlhomola Mosweu, also spelt Moshoeu, on April 20 2017, after
claiming they caught him taking a plant from a farm in the area.
Doorewaard was jailed for at least 18 years and Schutte was jailed for at
least 23.
The boy died after being thrown out of a moving vehicle driven by the pair
and suffering a broken neck, in a case that sparked rioting and looting of
white-owned businesses in the town of Coligny.
The men had claimed that the teen jumped off the truck as they drove him to
the police but it was Schutte who was found to have thrown the boy to his
death.
Judge Ronald Hendricks previously also found the pair guilty of kidnapping
and intimidation. “Murder is undoubtedly the most serious offence that can be
committed,” said Hendricks. “You picked up the deceased and threw him from
the van onto the ground.
“Your actions that day… were indeed disgraceful.”
Ahead of the sentencing, Schutte’s wife fixed his collar and kissed him in
the dock. The judge paused as his comments were translated into Afrikaans,
the language often spoken by white farmers in South Africa.
“It cannot be ignored that the community revolted as a result of this
incident,” added the judge.
– ‘Inaction of the police’ –
“This was largely because of the inaction of the police.
“The community of Coligny was polarised as a result of this incident.”
Other family members watched on as the judge announced his ruling — as did
members of the radical Economic Freedom Fighters Party which has vigorously
opposed racism against the country’s black majority.
Mosweu’s father said after the hearing he had hoped for 30 to 40 year
sentences and that he would be negatively affected if the sentences were
appealed.
“I want to say to white ladies, don’t allow your husband, brother, uncle
or son to indoctrinate their kids with this racism,” said a community leader
speaking inside the court.
“It’s not all whites in Coligny who are racist — it’s a pocket.”
“(Society) has to operate like a piano — you play black and white keys
together you get a melody,” he added.
Racially-charged incidents between white farm owners and managers and poor
black farmhands are common in South Africa.
In 2016 two white farmers in eastern Mpumalanga province forced into a
coffin a black man they accused of trespassing.
The case sparked outrage after a video of the incident emerged on social
media and the two were handed jail terms of 19 and 16 years.
Judge Hendricks said in mitigation of Doorewaard and Schutte’s sentences
that “there was no direct intention to kill the deceased”.
“(You are) first time offenders,” he added giving reasons for not imposing
life sentences.
“However the aggravating circumstances of this case far outway mitigating
(factors).”
The government said in a statement that “South Africans should not allow
actions like that of the two men to divide our country and communities”.
“Government calls on all parties to work together to foster
reconciliation,” it said.
BSS/AFP/RY/1901 hrs